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Preserve and pass down the way of making pháp lam-color cakes

TTH.VN - Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong, from Kim Long ward (Hue City) is one of the few people who still know and preserve the way to make pháp lam-color cakes in the area. It is because this cake, originated from the royal court, requires meticulousness, from kneading the dough, choosing jams, especially how to arrange the box from 6 pieces, one color each harmoniousy, square and spectacularly.

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Having the advantage of being a great-grandchildren of a Nguyen Dynasty's mandarin, her grandmother was the owner of a famous cake shop in Hue in the past, so since childhood, Thanh Huong has been taught how to make many delicious cakes, originated from the royal court, including pháp lam-color cakes.

“The reason it's called pháp lam-color cake is because the cake outer box is made from five-color paper of Thanh Tien village, with the main color palette in the pháp lam (vitreous enamel) art. Today, partly because the market has too many choices, partly because not many people learn how to make this cake, so it is very rare to see pháp lam-color cake on the market,” explained Ms. Thanh Huong. That is also the reason why she decided to teach cake making to those in need.

Let’s experience how to make pháp lam-color cakes through a photo reportage of Trung Phan, the photoghrapher, when he is also one of the few young people who have a passion for this cake!

Various kinds of jam to make cakes, more or less, to be added according to customer's taste

Various kinds of jam to make cakesmore or less, to be added according to customer's taste

All kinds of jam must be mixed on the cooking-stove to make the cake transparent

All kinds of jam must be mixed on the cooking-stove to make the cake transparent

Glutinous flour is added little by little to make the cake steady

Glutinous flour is added little by little to make the cake steady

Depending on customer’s need, that the cake will be cut thick or thin

The cake box is created from 6 small puzzle pieces

Depending on customer’s needthat the cake will be cut thick or thin 

Then put the cake in the box …

The cake box is created from 6 small puzzle pieces

Then put the cake in the box …

Then put the cake in the box …

…in a very sophisticated and meticulous way

…in a very sophisticated and meticulous way

A pháp lam-color cake in being finished

A pháp lam-color cake in being finished

By Thua Thien Hue Weekly

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