VietNamNet Bridge – The central province of Quang Ngai has been known as a land of sugarcane in Vietnam, and a visit to a traditional rock sugar village will provide visitors with an insight into the secret and processes that locals use to make this sugar specialty and their daily-life activities.

Two people are in a process of filtering impurities from sugar mixture

Although all the sugar processes of making rock candy are implemented manually, the home-made product has quality and hygiene guaranteed. The processes of producing rock sugar are the most complicated compared to those of making other specialties of Quang Ngai Province.

A man cooks sugar in a giant aluminum pan

As usual, local people mix three portions of sugar with two portions of water before boiling the mixture in a huge aluminum pan. Then, they put chicken’s eggs into the pan to purify the mixture before peanut oil is poured into the pan to calm the boiling liquid. They will pour the sugar on a big cloth to filter the remaining impurities and again heat the liquid before leaving it in a big jar from seven to nine days as the final process of making rock sugar.

Sugar mixture is kept in jars for seven to nine days as the final process of making rock sugar

Rock sugar is tasty and nutritious so it is good for the old and ill people to eat. Rock sugar steamed with lemon or kumquat can help cure coughs and sore throat.

Local people usually serve tea with rock sugar when they receive VIP guests or give it to the beloved or guests as a gift.

SGT/VNN