Ben Tre Coconut Candy Making Experience: Sweet & Immersive

Ben Tre, often hailed as the “land of coconuts,” is a province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta that is especially famous for its coconut candy. More than just a sweet indulgence, it embodies a cherished delicacy and a traditional craft that is deeply woven into the fabric of local culture. Coconut candy represents the essence of Ben Tre, showcasing the province’s rich resources and artisanal skills.

Join Joy Journeys in a hands-on exploration of the Ben Tre coconut candy making experience. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and discover the story behind this cherished sweet!

Coconut candy: The sweet tradition of Ben Tre

With its rich natural resources, Ben Tre is an ideal region for agricultural development. As of 2022, it is the largest coconut-producing province in Vietnam, boasting a harvested area of 72,872 hectares and a production output of 686,279 tons.

This abundance of coconuts has given rise to over 180 coconut candy production facilities across the province, producing tens of thousands of tons annually. These Ben Tre coconut candy villages are primarily located in Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac, Chau Thanh, and the city center.

This beloved specialty combines the region’s plentiful raw materials with the skillful craftsmanship of local artisans. These long-standing craft villages not only contribute to the economic value of coconuts, but also play a vital role in preserving and honoring the region’s traditional handicrafts.

While maintaining its traditional roots, the coconut candy industry continues to innovate, incorporating new technology and flavors such as taro, matcha, and cocoa. The high-quality ingredients ensure that Ben Tre’s coconut candy remains of excellent quality, leading to its widespread popularity both domestically and internationally, reaching markets in Asia, Europe, and America.

Step-by-step guide to the Ben Tre coconut candy making experience

Discover the process of creating unique Vietnamese coconut candy Ben Tre with Joy Journeys.

Preparing the Ingredients

Coconut candy is made from three main ingredients: coconut milk, malt, and sugar. The selection of these ingredients is crucial to achieving a delicious, chewy, and aromatic final product.

After fermentation, the glutinous rice used for making malt must be chosen from large, evenly ripened grains to ensure a naturally sweet flavor. Coconut milk is extracted from siamese coconut, providing a rich, smooth taste and a beautiful color.

Cooking the Mixture

Coconut candy comes in various flavors, and to create these, flavorings such as durian, cocoa, or strawberry are added to the coconut milk before cooking. Once the ingredients are mixed, they are placed in a pan and cooked over heat, requiring constant stirring to prevent burning.

Traditionally, this step was done by hand over a fire, but today, machines assist with this process, reducing labor intensity. The temperature must be carefully controlled.

Molding and Cooling

The mold is greased with oil to prevent sticking. Once the candy thickens and turns brown, it is poured into the mold to set its shape. The candy typically remains in the mold for about two hours to cool and harden to the desired consistency.

Cutting the Candy

After cooling, the candy is cut into small pieces by hand or machine. Depending on the flavor, additional ingredients like coconut fibers, milk powder, or cocoa powder can be incorporated. Each candy piece is then covered with a thin layer of rice paper to prevent moisture and enhance its shine.

Packaging the Candy

The candy is usually wrapped in paper and packaged in boxes. In the past, this was done entirely by hand, but modern machines now speed up the process, saving time.

Experience Ben Tre coconut candy on Authentic ‘Less-Touristy’ Mekong Delta Ben Tre 1-Day Tour

If you want to explore the Mekong Delta to experience the process and taste of the famous coconut candy Vietnam, check out Joy Journeys’ 1-day Ben Tre itinerary.

Overview

The uniqueness of Joy Journeys’ Ben Tre tour lies in its authentic experiences and visits to less touristy destinations. This journey focuses on activities such as boating along the river, exploring the village by car, and savoring local cuisine. These experiences will allow you to better connect with and immerse yourself in the daily life of the local people.

Activities

Guests will be picked up in Ho Chi Minh City and will travel approximately two hours to Ben Tre, stopping along the way to enjoy breakfast and Vietnamese coffee.

The journey’s first stop is a brick kiln, where you’ll learn how locals make a living from the region’s abundant clay resources. A key highlight of the trip is visiting a Ben Tre coconut candy factory, where you can see how delicious, chewy treats are made and experience Ben Tre coconut candy making experience. You’ll even have the chance to participate in coconut scraping under the guidance of the workers.

To fully enjoy the area’s natural beauty, you can explore the surroundings on a tuk-tuk or by bicycle. Joy Journeys will then take you to a local’s home for a delicious Southern-style lunch (with both traditional and vegan options available).

After lunch, you’ll enjoy a peaceful rowing boat ride along the stunning coconut canals of Ben Tre, rowed by locals.

Highlights

At Joy Journeys, we focus on creating the most authentic experiences for our customers by offering trips that avoid heavily trafficked tourist routes. Our small group tours, limited to fewer than 10 guests, ensure an intimate and personalized experience.

Joy Journeys aims to promote sustainable tourism and minimize its environmental impact by visiting craft villages and family-owned businesses.

We pride ourselves on punctuality, with guest pick-ups guaranteed to be at most 8 minutes late. Our tour guides are fluent in foreign languages, professional, polite, cheerful, and attentive. We continuously adjust our itineraries to enhance the customer experience and avoid overcrowded tourist locations.

The tour price is 1,500,000 VND per person, which includes lunch (vegetarian/vegan options available) and one optional drink (water, beer, coconut water, or soda).

Transportation is provided in a 16-seat air-conditioned vehicle, with pick-up and drop-off in Districts 1 and 2. Additional costs such as boat and bicycle trips, fruit and coconut juice tastings, and all entrance fees are also included.

Conclusion

Coconut candy is a signature treat of Ben Tre, beloved for its distinct sweetness and traditional flavor that’s unique to the Mekong Delta. Bringing home this delightful candy makes for a memorable gift, symbolizing the essence of Ben Tre’s rich coconut culture. When you visit this charming “coconut land,” be sure to savor this specialty firsthand!

For an authentic Ben Tre coconut candy making experience, reach out to Joy Journeys on WhatsApp: +84 (0) 868.17.66.79 to plan your visit or visit our website to learn more: joyjourneys.com.vn