When lotus flower season hits in June, it is time for Hanoians to start cooking something refreshing and healthy to keep themselves cool in the summer weather. When it comes to heat-relieving foods, lotus seed sweet soup is always the first dish served.

Illustrative image.

Although lotus seed sweet soup is just a common kind of dessert sold in small food stalls deep inside the Hanoi Old Quarter, it is so stunning and delicious that it can satisfy every Hanoian’s sweet tooth. 

This might possibly be the reason why this “old” sweet soup can still maintain its position on the Vietnamese favourite dessert list when many non-native desserts such as Che Khuc Bach – almond pannacotta with lychee sweet soup and Thai sweet gruel have made headway into the local diet.

The recipe for this sweet soup is simple, according to Nguyen Thi Thom - the owner of a 40-year-old dessert restaurant in Quan Thanh . The main ingredient is dried lotus seeds, which are often soaked overnight. They are then cooked in sugar water until tender and starchy enough to eat. The combination of ingredients varies among cooks, but serving the seeds mixed with mung beans, grass jelly and boba tapioca pearls is considered the best way to enjoy the dish.

Lotus seed sweet soup is always the first choice of Hanoians to beat the summer heat because it bears the unique flavour of Hanoi. It is neither sophisticatedly garnished nor eye-catching in colour, however it is the pure simplicity that creates the attractiveness of the dessert.

Lotus seed sweet soup is not only a delicious and elegant dish but also of much benefit to one’s health. It can work as a tonic, helping people to stay cool on hot days because of its heat-relieving nature, giving people a good night’s sleep or even improving people’s strength.

Lotus paintings at Noi Bai airport win gold at international design contest

Two lotus paintings by painter Nguyen Thu Thuy at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport have won the gold medal in the Social Design category at the A’Design Award and Competition 2019 in Italy.

Mural paintings on lotus ponds debut at Noi Bai International Airport

Two large mural paintings, featuring lotus flower ponds, were inaugurated at Terminal 2 at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on January 3.

Unique lotus silk

From the fragile silk thread and extraordinary craft manipulation, lotus silk has become a unique product in the fashion market. Currently, in Vietnam, there is only one successful person who has engaged herself in pursuit of the "unique" product line. She is artisan Phan Thi Thuan from Ha village, Phung Xa commune, My Duc district, Hanoi.

Lotus root soup – A tasty and healthy appetizer

Lotus root soup is a traditional dish eaten daily by Vietnamese people. It is also enjoyed at parties, weddings and during the Tet (lunar New Year) holiday. The dish is available at restaurants in all three regions of Vietnam.

Dong Thap youngster works to promote Vietnamese lotuses to the world

After finishing his biochemistry master's program in France, Ngo Chi Cong decided to start his own business with lotus, the iconic flower of his hometown in Dong Thap province.

Source: NDO