The cakes are shaped like ginger roots and flavored with fresh ginger. They are an indispensable component of traditional Cham festivals, especially the Kate Festival, the most sacred and important celebration of the community.
Each ginger cake is carefully handcrafted, traditionally in the shape of a ginger root, but also creatively molded into fish, coral, and other symbols of good fortune.
After being shaped, the cakes are deep-fried in hot oil. The maker gently presses both sides of each cake with chopsticks and a spatula to maintain its original shape. Once the cakes turn golden brown, they are coated in syrup made from white sugar and fresh ginger, then left to dry to achieve their signature crispness and extend their shelf life.
A well-made ginger cake has a white coating, crispy texture, mild sweetness, and delicate ginger aroma.
"The ingredients include eggs, glutinous rice flour, and sugar. Fresh ginger and vanilla give the cakes their distinctive fragrance. During the Cham traditional New Year, no matter what else we prepare, we must have ginger cakes to offer to our ancestors," said Nguyen Thi San of Tinh My village, Hong Thai commune, Lam Dong province.
Ginger cakes are closely associated with a Cham legend of faithful love. Cham woman Nai Chrao Cho Pho spent her days waiting for her husband, who had gone to sea to fight during wartime. Filled with longing, she made Ginrong Laya ginger cakes and sent them adrift in the sea for the fish and shrimp, hoping her husband would soon return, but sadly he never came back. Heartbroken, she transformed into a stone by the seashore, while the ginger cakes turned into the colorful coral reefs beneath the waters of Ca Na Bay. Since then, ginger cakes have symbolized impassioned love and lifelong marital fidelity.
At wedding ceremonies, ginger cakes carry special significance, symbolizing faithfulness and the harmony of yin and yang. To preserve the craft, Dang Thi Mai of Tinh My village has organized a group of local women to continue making ginger cakes. As word spread, Tinh My ginger cakes have become well known among customers both within and beyond Lam Dong province.
"One kilogram of flour produces about 40 cakes, which sell for about 23 USD. Recently, we had an order for 10 kilograms of flour. After covering labor and other expenses, we earned a profit of about 38 USD. We make ginger cakes to preserve our traditional craft and create additional income for local women," said Mai.
Tinh My ginger cakes will potentially be recognized as the first OCOP product (One Commune One Product) of Hong Thai commune. the Hong Thai Women's Union has launched a women startup business with ten members to further develop the craft.
The initiative helps improve local livelihoods and promotes the movement of “women helping each other in economic development and building happy family life”.
Mach Thi Xuan Thuy, Chairwoman of the Hong Thai Women's Union, said, "We continue to support local women by providing technical training, supplying materials, and assisting with packaging and branding. We also help connect them with markets and guide them in applying digital technologies to sell their products and build the brand of Tinh My ginger cakes."
Ahead of major festivals, Cham women come together to prepare the ingredients, pound the flour, and carefully shape the cakes. For the Cham people, ginger cakes are sacred offerings that reflect their hopes and prayers for peace, prosperity, and happiness.
