Coming to Lam Thanh quarter (Kim Tan town, Thach Thanh district, Thanh Hoa province) these days, the production atmosphere here is extremely bustling, households making molasses are busy, day and night lighting fires to supply the Tet market.
Sharing with reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, many households making molasses here said that in Thanh Hoa in particular and the Central provinces in general, molasses is considered a favorite dish to enjoy with banh chung and pickled onions during Tet. Therefore, the molasses profession has been practiced by people in Lam Thanh town since ancient times, and until now, this profession is still maintained and developed.
Mr. Do Van Duong (47 years old, living in Lam Thanh street, Kim Tan town, Thach Thanh district) said that his family's molasses making profession has existed for many generations, since his ancestors. Although this profession is hard, in return, the income is stable, helping many families have food and savings, especially during Tet holiday.
“Every year, around the 11th lunar month, the whole town collects sugarcane and lights the furnace to make molasses. To produce delicious molasses, we have to wake up early in the morning to press the sugarcane and boil the molasses. The steps are very elaborate, especially if we are careless, the molasses will spoil. In the days leading up to Tet, we have to light the fire day and night, in order to have enough goods to supply the market,” said Mr. Duong.
According to Mr. Duong, like every year, this year, the price of honey sold at the market is about 16,000 VND/kg. It is estimated that this year his family will produce about 25 to 30 tons of honey to supply the market.
It is known that in Lam Thanh quarter, there are about 20 molasses furnaces. These days, the molasses furnaces are operating at full capacity, many traders from all over the localities and provinces have started to come to purchase, transport and prepare to supply and serve people to celebrate Tet.
Bustling images at the molasses capital of Thanh:
