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In addition to being famous for its ancient beauty and streets filled with colorful lanterns, it is also an ideal destination for those who are passionate about cuisine. Among the famous specialties of this land, white rose cake stands out with its delicate appearance and unique flavor. The cake has the appearance of shy flower petals but contains a rich flavor, both elegant and charming. Discovering and enjoying white rose cake is not only a culinary experience, but also a journey to learn about the culture and traditional culinary quintessence of Hoi An.

What is white rose cake?

White Rose Cake is one of the unique and typical traditional dishes of Hoi An ancient town. This is a dish you should not miss when exploring the culinary culture of this ancient city. White Rose Cake includes two types of cakes: Banh Bao and Banh Vac (2 different types of cakes are often displayed together and called White Rose Cake), each with a unique shape and flavor, but all have the same elegance and sophistication in the way they are processed and shaped.

Banh Bao is a small round cake, with a soft white outer shell, made from pure rice flour. When the cake is wrapped and steamed, the mouth of the cake blooms like rose petals, creating a shape like a pure flower, from which Banh Bao becomes a part of the famous White Rose Cake. The soft, smooth cake shell combined with the meat filling inside, brings a rich and attractive flavor.

Banh Vac has a small, crescent shape, similar to Banh Bot Loc. However, the difference of Banh Vac lies in the way it is made and the transparency of the cake crust, combined with the crushed shrimp filling. Each Banh Vac is skillfully shaped and meticulously presented, looking very beautiful.

Both Banh Bao and Banh Vac are beautifully arranged on a plate, often served with sweet and sour dipping sauce and crispy fried onions, creating a delicious and aesthetically pleasing dish. The name “White Rose Cake” also comes from its delicate appearance like bright white flowers in a traditional culinary garden.

Enjoying White Rose Cake is a great way for you to experience the rich flavor of Hoi An, blending simplicity and sophistication, leaving an unforgettable impression on diners.

Read more: Quang Noodles: A must-try and soul food of Quang Nam

Learn the origin of white rose cake

White Rose Cake is a typical dish of Hoi An, which has been associated with the history and culture of this place for more than 100 years. This dish bears the mark of local cuisine and also reflects the diverse cultural exchange of this ancient land. To better understand the origin of white rose cake, we need to look back at the history and influences that have shaped this delicate and unique dish.

Appearing more than 100 years ago, white rose cake has become an indispensable part of Hoi An, preserving traditional culture through many generations. Since its inception, the cake has existed alongside the changes of the city, but the flavor and method of making it have remained the same.

The influence of Chinese cuisine also contributed greatly to the formation of this cake. During the period of strong commercial development in Hoi An, many Chinese people migrated to this land, bringing with them their traditional recipes. The famous Chinese dumpling is the predecessor of the white rose cake. Through the skillful hands of the Chinese, the cake was transformed and more suitable to local tastes. Gradually, the white rose cake has its own unique characteristics, creating a unique flavor of Hoi An that cannot be found anywhere else.

Today, the white rose cake is a very popular dish in Hoi An and is an indispensable part of tourists’ journey to explore the culinary culture. The elegant, sophisticated flavor along with the historical story behind it makes this cake an important culinary symbol, contributing to the unique cultural identity of Hoi An ancient town.

Main ingredients to make white rose cake

To create the distinctive flavor of this dish, every ingredient is carefully prepared, from the smooth crust, rich filling to the perfectly mixed dipping sauce.

Crust ingredients

The crust material is the most important factor, creating an attractive look and a smooth feeling when enjoying. The white rose crust is made from rice starch, but not all types of rice are suitable. Only rice grains from new, fragrant and sticky rice are selected to create a pure layer of flour. After being washed, the rice goes through a filtering process many times to remove impurities and retain the finest flour. Thanks to this process, the crust is pure white, soft and does not use any bleach or borax. This ensures food safety and retains the natural, delicate flavor of the rice.

Cake filling

The filling is what gives the white rose cake its rich and varied flavor. There are two main types of filling, corresponding to the two types of cake: banh bao and banh vac.

• Banh vac: The filling of banh vac is made from fresh shrimp and minced meat, combined with pepper, onions, wood ear mushrooms and traditional spices. The freshness of the shrimp blends with the meat and spices to create a rich flavor while still retaining the sophistication of each ingredient.
• Banh bao: The filling of banh bao is a bit different when focusing on pork and wood ear mushrooms, stir-fried with green onions and spices typical of Hoi An people. The flavor of banh bao is often richer and richer than banh vac, bringing a more diverse culinary experience to diners.

Sauce

The dipping sauce is an indispensable element, contributing to perfecting the flavor of the white rose cake. The dipping sauce is meticulously mixed with a harmonious combination of sour, sweet and spicy flavors, creating a rich, well-balanced fish sauce. The dipping sauce not only enhances the flavor of the cake but also helps balance the flavors, making the dish more delicious and easier to eat.

Some places to enjoy white rose cake in Hoi An

If you are looking for a restaurant to enjoy white rose cake on your upcoming trip to Hoi An, check out some of the following places.

White Rose – Banh Bao Banh Vac Oven

• Address: 533 Hai Ba Trung, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
• Reference opening hours: 7:30 – 20:30
• Reference price: 50,000 – 100,000 VND/dish

White Rose – Banh Bao Banh Vac Oven is one of the most famous places to enjoy white rose cakes in Hoi An. The shop is loved by locals for its unique flavor. In particular, here you also have the opportunity to watch the bakers directly prepare and enjoy hot cakes, just out of the oven. Coming to White Rose, you will feel the meticulousness in each step and the unforgettable flavor of this traditional dish.

Trong Com Restaurant

• Address: 92 Bach Dang Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
• Reference opening hours: 08:30 – 22:30
• Reference price: 50,000 – 100,000 VND/dish

Trong Com Restaurant is an address that cannot be missed when mentioning white rose cake. The restaurant is famous for its family recipe, full of traditional flavor. The white rose cake here has a soft crust, rich filling, and is served with a delicious dipping sauce, creating a wonderful harmony in each bite. The cozy space and attentive service are also a big plus of Trong Com Restaurant.

Read more: Hoi An Chicken Rice: Top 10 best chicken rice in Hoi An

Trung Bac Restaurant – Cao Lau Banh Vac

• Address: 87 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
• Reference opening hours: 7:00 – 20:30
• Reference price: 50,000 – 100,000 VND/dish

Trung Bac Restaurant is a restaurant with a long history of over 100 years old. It serves authentic white rose cake and is famous for many other specialties of Hoi An such as Cao Lau, wonton, etc. White rose cake at Trung Bac has a light, easy-to-eat taste, combined with side dishes to create a meal with a strong Hoi An flavor. If you are looking for a traditional culinary experience, Trung Bac Restaurant will be an ideal choice.

Hoi An Market

• Address: Hoi An Market, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
• Reference opening hours: 6:00 – 18:00
• Reference price: 30,000 – 70,000 VND/dish

Hoi An Market is a place for you to shop for handicrafts or local agricultural products and is a traditional culinary paradise. Here, you will easily find many stalls selling white rose cakes. Enjoying the cakes in the bustling, simple space of the market brings diners a close and interesting experience. Each cake sold at the market retains its unique flavor, blending with the bustling atmosphere of this place, creating an unforgettable memory when exploring Hoi An cuisine.

To have a vacation or a food tour with a good experience, finding a suitable place to stay is also very important. Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness offers visitors a relaxing vacation, immersed in the nature of the sea and is an ideal stop for a journey to discover the unique cuisine of Hoi An ancient town. After hours of enjoying famous delicacies, you can return to the resort with a peaceful space, high-class service and comprehensive health care treatments. Bliss Hoi An is truly the perfect choice to make your Hoi An food tour complete and memorable.