Along the winding village roads in the Nam Yen area, towering sugarcane fields obscure the view.
Sugarcane is one of the main crop of Hoa Bac commune, with a total sugarcane area of about 120 hectares. Thanks to the suitable soil and climate, Hoa Bac sugarcane has a sweet and fragrant taste and is always favored by traders.
Each sugarcane season usually lasts from 9 months to 1 year, depending on climate conditions, it may take longer to harvest. Sugarcane is an easy-to-grow crop, requires little care and few pests and diseases. Compared to other crops, sugarcane is often grown on fertile alluvial areas rich in nutrients, so it does not require much fertilizer costs but still achieves high quality yields.
In the summer, along the way up to Hoa Bac, the sugarcane rows become bustling. With just 15,000 VND, visitors can have 1 liter of sugarcane juice to quench their thirst and fill their stomachs. Sugarcane juice is also known as the summer refreshment star.
Regarding the uses of sugarcane, if used in moderation, it will bring many very good benefits to health. In addition to helping to cool the body, sugarcane juice also helps reduce bad cholesterol, prevent cancer, balance blood sugar in people with diabetes, reduce fever, and at the same time has the effect of purifying the kidneys and preventing other diseases.
In addition to being squeezed and drunk directly, sugarcane juice is also cooked into molasses. Molasses is cooked for 7-8 hours. During the time of watching the pot, the people must continuously remove the sugarcane foam that is on the boiling pot. Cooked a little longer, we get molasses concentrated into malt. Using molasses instead of sugar is very good for health, does not contain preservatives, but can be stored for a long time.
Hoa Bac sugarcane juice is not only a familiar refreshing drink but also a source of pride for the local people. The lush green sugarcane fields contribute to making the rural landscape more peaceful and poetic. Each glass of sugarcane juice carries a sweet and fragrant taste, a wonderful gift that nature has bestowed upon humans.