Five-colour sticky rice of Lu ethnic minority people

Steamed sticky rice of five different colours are layered on top of each other. (Photo:VNA)

LaiChau (VNS/VNA) - An indispensable dish found at every festive event ofthe Lu ethnic minority people in the northern province of Lai Chau isfive-colour sticky rice. The recipe has been preserved by the Lu people throughgenerations and has become a part of their unique cultural identity.

Wildedible plants are used to colour the rice. The red colour is created from gac fruit, green from leaves of gingeror pineapple, yellow from pounded old turmeric roots and purple from themagenta plant; white is the original colour of the sticky rice.

Accordingto Lo Thi Pau from Tham village, every Lu family grows the plants to make thesticky rice around their houses. Actually cooking the rice is pretty simple andsimilar to other kinds of sticky rice. 

“Beforebeing dyed, the rice must be soaked in cold water for six to eight hours anddivided into five equal parts, enough to make each colour.

“Themost difficult step is cooking and pounding the leaves and tubers to get thecoloured juices. To ensure that the colours are beautiful, the cook must avoidmixing the plants together and must cook them in different pots,” she said.

Afterthat, the sticky rice is steamed. The success of the dish is hinged on thismoment and is dictated by the skill and experience of each cook.

“Thesticky rice is dyed with colours created from natural plants and steamed withpure spring water. This makes it very fragrant and gives it the typical tasteof the mountains where the plants are grown,” Pau said.

ToLu people, each colour, white, purple, blue, yellow and red, has a differentmeaning. The red sticky rice symbolises the desire to live and dreams of abright future, purple represents a rich land, yellow represents prosperity anda wish for a peaceful life, green represents the colours of the mountains andforests and white symbolises family loyalty and love for parents.

Aswell being as an integral part of the ethnic group in every festive andspiritual event, such as weddings or funerals, five-colour sticky rice has alsobecome a treat that impresses visitors, thanks to its deliciousness andeye-catching colours.

“Itis very interesting to witness Lu people make five-colour sticky rice. The dishis truly tasty and fragrant, completely different from other dishes I havetried before,” said Ta Ngoc Lam, a tourist from the northern province of Phu Tho./.

VNA