At festivals, traditional cultural festivals, "leaf leaves" is considered one of the characteristics of Muong culinary culture in Yen Luong commune, Thanh Son district, Phu Tho province.
To get the "leaf" tray, first of all, prepare a tray to arrange the deck, the tray is usually made of wood with a circle, symbolizing the roundness, fullness and the tray with legs to show stability yes. The meat in the deck is mainly Muong pork, in addition to chicken or goat meat. Then, the decker selects banana leaves to place on the tray.
In all community meals such as festivals, traditional Tet days of the nation, Muong people often display decks on banana leaves. Banana leaves are exposed through fire to wither, supple and scent up the aroma of the mountains. According to the concept of Muong people, the leaf tip and leaf border represent Muong Sang - of the living, the leaf base and leaf bearing symbolize Muong To i - Muong ma, of the dead. Therefore, when using banana leaves to display the decks, Muong people also have the rules of discrimination: People come in, ghost out - that is, when preparing the leaves for the living, the leaf tip is pointed inwards, while displaying the offerings, opposite. This is considered to be the rule of Muong people because they think that violating will bring bad things to homeowners. The person who arranged the slab not only ranked it beautiful but also exuded a spiritual meaning - heaven and earth harmonized and expressed the gratitude of the Muong people to the earth, heaven, Mountain forest. The whole tray of plate from dish to arrangement exudes a certain meaning. Previously, the deck of the deck was made of round or square wood, representing heaven and earth, with legs to show stability. Today people all turn to aluminum trays, but they still cannot lack bananas for lining up food. Each deck arranges a leaf tip and a leaf gland in the center, representing the soil and the forest. The tip of the leaf gills is considered a symbol of heaven and earth - a place to arrange the heart including the liver arranged in the leaf gills, followed by the bottom, then the stomach and intestines, one row at a time. but it's still indispensable to have banana leaf lining to arrange food. Each deck arranges a leaf tip and a leaf gland in the center, representing the soil and the forest. The tip of the leaf gills is considered a symbol of heaven and earth - a place to arrange the heart including the liver arranged in the leaf gills, followed by the bottom, then the stomach and intestines, one row at a time. but it's still indispensable to have banana leaf lining to arrange food. Each deck arranges a leaf tip and a leaf gland in the center, representing the soil and the forest. The tip of the leaf gills is considered a symbol of heaven and earth - a place to arrange the heart including the liver arranged in the leaf gills, followed by the bottom, then the stomach and intestines, one row at a time.
"Leaf" is mainly made from Muong pork. When processing, there are mainly three types: baked goods, boiled dishes, steamed dishes. Boiled dishes are sliced from the parts of boiled boars to. The meat is thinly sliced, displayed on a banana leaf, which has been heated and cleaned. On each leaf there are all kinds of meat: a little butt meat, a little bacon, a little bone, a little fat, a little lean meat, a few pieces of plentiful, some small hearts ...
In the leaf tray, foods are arranged in a circle. First will be the heart, heart, boiled pork liver followed by barbecue, boiled meat. On the top is a few pieces of grilled spring rolls. Grill meat is often soaked galangal, lemongrass, batch should be greasy and aromatic, boiled dishes are mixed with baked dishes to make the dish more delicious, more attractive.
In the "leaf" is indispensable rolls, rolled up with things: sliced eggs and pork rolls, with herbs, scallions. This is the most typical dish of Muong cuisine. Mixed with meat dishes are boiled bamboo shoots and raw vegetables. "Leaf" is also indispensable, white sticky rice to symbolize the quintessence of land and forests. Glutinous rice glutinous rice is cooked to the square, wrapped in a square banana train has softened fire. Flavored just fragrant, just flexible. If on big festivals, Muong people often wear multicolored sticky rice with five colors of green - red - purple - yellow - white beautifully. Each tray is also arranged with a plate of stir-fried banana flower, one or two bowls of banana soup - a soup made with young banana trees, thinly sliced, cooked with broth. Soup has a strong sweetness is a typical soup and indispensable in the tray.
Finally, the "salt of salt", which is salt after roasting or baking, mixed with guava seeds, black seeds, very fragrant, after being grilled over embers and smashed. "Salt with salt" makes the "leaf deck" more flavor, more charming is an integral part of the tray of Muong people.
"Leaf" is the quintessence of Muong cuisine, it contains people's love for the earth, heaven and forests. Enjoy the leaf ”, not only to feel the special flavor of dipping dishes, but also to feel the rustic, sincere human feelings through the presentation of the deck, the feel of the ceremony, the magic rules through the way of sitting, eating ... of Muong people.
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