By Hà Nguyễn & Hoàng Hồ

Tôm chua (fermented sour shrimp) is a specialty of Việt Nam and can be found in several provinces and cities such as Huế in the central region, but the most delicious dish comes from the northern mountainous province of Bắc Kạn’s Ba Bể Lake, according to professional chef Phạm Tuấn Hải.

The Huế sour shrimp is much sweeter, sourer and fiery compared with the natural flavour of Ba Bể shrimp, he said.

Hải said he discovered the dish some years ago while touring Ba Bể Lake.” The tôm chua attracted me to its light sweet and sour flavours and the richer taste coming from the meat. Diners who have a chance to enjoy the dish understand the reason why locals are so proud of their specialty.” 

Kicker: Tôm chua ( fermented sour shrimp), a must-try dish in Bắc Kạn Province. — Photo kynghidongduong.vn

He said many of his friends wanted to visit Ba Bể Lake not only for its charming natural landscape but to have a chance to taste the dish made by local people.

“I was very moved the first time I visited the lake because locals joyfully welcomed us into their homes to enjoy tôm chua with a cup of homemade maize wine. I will never forget the greasy flavour of the shrimp mixed with different spices.”

Nông Thị Noọng, 63, from the Tày ethnic group said she ordered fresh shrimp from a neighbour who specialise in netting shrimp from the lake. “I select juicy shrimp very carefully before fermenting them with salt.”

Other ingredients include glutinous rice, garlic, grated galangal, salt and spices.

“We buy the sticky rice grown high in the mountains because it's more fragrant and soft. After steaming it and letting it cool, I mix it with special yeast made by the people of Ba Bể and brew it for two days before adding all the ingredients into a jar for 7-10 days,” Noọng said, noting that the dish should be eaten with boiled pork leg or bacon cut into thin pieces.

Kicker: Sour shrimp is much tastier when eaten with boiled pork or bacon. Photo — kynghidongduong.vn

It’s most enjoyable with a plate of boiled pig ears mixed with powdered grilled rice known as thính gạo, a popular culinary spice in Việt Nam, in addition to young banana, đinh lăng leaves, and mạy sâu leaves, she said, noting that she also made fermented fish to combine with the sour shrimp to create a special dish that diners found difficult to resist.

Most local housewives know how to make sour shrimp. Many of them make it for sale and while others make enough for their families to enjoy the year-round, and to send it to their relatives and friends at home and abroad.

Hải recalled a story about the first time he was invited to try the dish.

“With several fermented shrimp, I ate four bowls of rice at the same time without being satiated because I had a full experience of the dish’s sour, peppery, salty and sweet flavours from the first bite.  The fragrance of the galangal stood out in my throat and made me thought I was still hungry even though I was full.”

He said his friend Phương Ngọc Tùng is renowned for being a picky eater, but also agreed the dish was unforgettable.

“Enjoying the dish with a small cup of local wine made me lightheaded.”

 “I want to buy some jars of shrimp to take to my relatives.”

Kicker: Sour shrimp made in Ba Bể can be taken home as a gift for relatives. — Photo viso.vn

Nọong said that visitors wishing to buy a jar of shrimp should visit Khang Ninh Market, which is held every five days.

“As well as other mountain produce, sour shrimp is available for the affordable price of VNĐ80,000-90,000 per 300g.”

Apart from locals, many visitors have also become addicted to the dish.

“Those wishing to taste the dish should come to Ba Bể because the quality of shrimp can't be found anywhere else. Many people have studied our recipe in different parts of the country but they fail because their shrimp are not the same quality as ours,” Nọong said. — VNS