The flavor of star fruit in the flood season in the West

The flood season in the West is not only associated with freshwater fish but also with typical fruits. Among them, the Ca Na fruit, with its sour and astringent taste, has become a specialty today.

During the flood season, people row boats to pick star fruit and collect the fallen ripe fruit to make wine - Photo: TONG DOANH

The Canarium tree often grows along the banks of rice fields in the West. There are perennial trees with large, sturdy trunks and wide canopies that spread shade in the middle of the fields.

During the flood season, people row boats to the fields or park their boats under the shade of trees to rest and pick star apples to "have fun" and relieve boredom.

Simple and easy to make salt and chili mixed star fruit dish - Photo: TONG DOANH

The star fruit tastes both sour and astringent. Each person can only eat two at most and then "give up". The star fruit grows in clusters and is pointed like green candles. Each time you pick about half a conical hat, you eat it all and then have to go back to the field to pick more.

Smashed carambola mixed with fish sauce and sugar, smashed carambola mixed with salt and chili, candied carambola... are popular rustic ways to eat it.

Candied carambola is a rather elaborate and time-consuming dish to prepare, but it is easy to eat and is popular with customers looking to buy it in rural markets.

Canarium fruit is sold at markets for 15,000 VND/kg - Photo: TONG DOANH

Nowadays, in addition to being eaten fresh, Canarium fruit is also used to make wine, becoming an OCOP specialty of An Giang province. Dong Thap farmers are growing and producing wine, registering it as a local specialty product.

Mr. Phan Van Nam - residing in Long Thang commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province - said that his Canarium orchard is 7 years old, growing and bearing fruit seasonally, not just following the rising water level like trees growing naturally in the fields, the trees still grow after the dry season.

"This tree is safe for clean fruit. Home growers will spray it with cotton and fruit-setting chemicals every 2-3 months. On average, each large canopy tree yields about 150kg, and small trees 50-70kg per crop.

Star fruit grows in clusters close together, making it easy to pick - Photo: TONG DOANH

Currently, the price of raw star fruit purchased at the garden is about 10,000 VND/kg. However, picking it is very hard work, the profit is not high, so I will let the star fruit ripen by itself, fall on the water surface, then I will scoop it up and process it into wine," said Mr. Nam.

After harvesting, the ripe star fruit is washed, dried in the sun, and then fermented for about 3 months to make wine. Currently, Mr. Nam's family's star fruit wine is being distributed to stores in and outside the province such as: Sa Dec, Can Tho, Bac Lieu , Ca Mau.

Ripe star fruit fermented for about 3 months to make wine is sold for a higher price than fresh star fruit - Photo: TONG DOANH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/huong-vi-trai-ca-na-mua-nuoc-noi-mien-tay-20241028091414032.htm