Ben Tre coconut candy specialties originating from Mo Cay district, pre-1960, so at that time it was known as Mo Cay candy. Formula made candy Mo Cay is simple: Sugar barrels (sugar cane) Air coconut milk, malt and bring up the pan, stirring until; down the pan, no mold and chopped up into small candy.
The heyday of coconut candy
Ben Tre coconut candy specialties originating from Mo Cay district, pre-1960, so at that time it was known as Mo Cay candy. Formula made candy Mo Cay is simple: Sugar barrels (sugar cane) Air coconut milk, malt and bring up the pan, stirring until; down the pan, no mold and chopped up into small candy. This time, Mo Cay candy squares, flats, to just thumb. After 1975, also with the recipe, but chopped candy is larger, rectangular-shaped, was referred to as coconut candy. Speaking of coconut candy recipe simply listen, but to make coconut candies increasingly more began eating addiction, also known as "fat candy", then kiln owners have experienced candy skilled, most are not "tricks" in the stage of preparation. This means that the amount of coconut milk, sugar (sugar and sugar bins), barley in a pot of water being withdrawn air to the more profitable production obtained. It's also known as type "horizontal candy".
Subsidy period, starting in 1982 - 1990, candy manufacturer in Ben Tre coconut expensive like hotcakes. The province is the most concentrated in the town of Mo Cay district, Ben Tre and has over 300 manufacturing establishments, large and small, with 30-50 per worker basis. Most workers make them poor laborers in urban, suburban and rural areas. Traditional craft of making candy to give them income relative to live. Coconut candy after found throughout the South West Province, South China, confectionery market continues to expand the northern provinces and are always flocked to Cambodia, Laos and China in particular - huge market with a billion people. In China, branded coconut candy, Ben Tre's "Mrs. Two glasses" (Pham Thi To, East Asia Co., Ltd.) to sell expensive goods. Kudos a specialty of Ben Tre more and more Chinese are known. At home, East Asia Co., Ltd. focusing their efforts coconut candy production for the Chinese market. East Asia Co., Ltd. grew from there.
Then, Ben Tre coconut candy brands is the Chinese counterfeiting. Been tampered with, she sued two. A two bowls themselves alone she traveled from Vietnam to China to make the event, everything went very tough but she eventually won the case. They know so much, "Mrs. Two glasses - Ben" as well as rides from pioneering event devoted to this brand.
In Laos, the first batch of coconut candy from Ben Tre to here (1982) is also the land of million elephants who you fancy, expensive restaurant selling candy. A friend of mine, who was carrying coconut candy sold in Laos, said: "passenger cars pulled over, down the line, have the right to buy half a bag of letters and stood beside the car, eat a bag of most circuits. Are they like fat, coconut fat thing on earth islet Ben Tre? "
However, when selling coconut candy is delicious, the momentum began to appear about competition not to think about the future of manufacturing establishments in Ben Tre coconut candy. When goods are put candy made in large quantities, mass production for timely delivery, many facilities have expanded to many "Satellite" (processing facilities) and turn down the fat candy "candy horizontal "! Sweets fat sticky malt production, while "horizontal candy" was replaced by malt West (made from cassava), making hard candy candy than fat, so long candy colors flowing back up the unsold goods after being returned as all manufacturing establishments embrace! Many coconut candy production facility then bankrupt, debt story as well from "horizontal candy"! A home oven candy said: "After 1997, production began coconut crude rushing into China, which is favorable to the Chinese produce coconut candy just like in Ben Tre. Plus, as everyone knows, formulas and manufacturing techniques where coconut candy is something mysterious, sublime. "
Start time tough competition
But as coconut candy, coconut candy brands such Dragon, this business has no ambition to bring their products to overseas conquest. Over 30 years ago, still with quality recipes and traditions are maintained, brand Thanh Long coconut candy strong market share in the country.
Ben Tre coconut candy brand after long time exported to China, now turn to the domestic market, making competition between the "giants" in Ben Tre coconut candy heats up each day. On Highway 60, the gateway to the town of Ben Tre province or on the highway in the district, ubiquitous coconut candy brands that compete for promotion, closely. The competition is heating up in the moment, the price to produce coconut coconut candy is now up on 50.000d/chuc (12 left), made many production facilities in Ben Tre coconut candy to suspend operations because production unprofitable or only moderately produced to retain workers. In the town of Mo Cay district, Ben Tre, Chau has over 100 coconut candy production facility, is currently about 80% of facilities are decommissioned. The owners said coconut candy production, this is the first time that they have to face and solve the conundrum between inputs, labor and money to the market value of investments can accept the transfer product this system. When asked "delicious coconut candy Price (fat) out of 18,000 - 20.000d/kg, production can not say?", The oven candy confide Lan Huong: "Coconut 50.000d/chuc price, plus the price of sugar, malt as at present, can only hold production. But as prices continue to climb coconut, of course, candy sales to raise rates further, which increases so sure what is accepted by the market. "
The coconut candy production facility currently can not afford to coconut production because total output in Ben Tre coconut decline after typhoon Durian (typhoon No. 9 - May 12-2006). The more intense than when the farmer selling raw coconut fruit to China, Thailand, Cambodia to the bulk, and the constant is always higher than the domestic price. Mr. Thinh Friday, coconut farmer in Binh Phu Commune, Ben Tre town, mused: "I have 3.5 of coconut plantation land (3,500 m2). Last year at this time, I harvested over 300 coconut but now cut in half. 9 In passing storm, most coconut trees in Ben Tre are "god" factor still has, cotton coconut, young coconut falling carnage ". Coconut prices soaring, a master mechanic candy oven just for holidays, coal: "The coconut candy production, employee retention is of paramount importance. Because, "cross arm" how can a few days and became a candy maker. So inactive then it will be difficult to find workers for their facility! "
Keep your reputation for producing coconut candy in Ben Tre to mention Dragon Ent. Ms. Nguyen Thi Diem Home Ent Thien Long said: "We use materials from the mainstream specialty home, not replaced by other materials affecting the reputation of their products. Currently, the price of raw materials has been a higher (such as coconut), making the cost. So, to be able to stand firm and long-term development, we have to calculate very parsimonious: During production, no other way than to create a product line for its facility based on the traditional methods of production, especially since the quality of the fruit grown on the isle of Ben Tre land. The basis of the candy product we do not use preservatives, white titanium oxide to make candy and sweeteners or flavoring to my aid-bunch ".
