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Eating soil in Vinh Phuc
Friday, March 21, 2014
Soil can be eaten raw but to make it tasty, Vinh Phuc’s people have to process it in quite a meticulous process.
The family of Mrs. Khong Thi Bien, 80, and Mr. Khong Van Loa in Thong Nhat village, the town of Lap Thach in Vinh Phuc province has maintained the soil eating custom for several generations.
About 30-40 years ago, many households in this village earned their living by selling soil that was smoked with tomentose rose myrtle leaves as a nosh at the local markets.
"When I was a young girl, I was taught by the elder that eating specific kinds of soil on the mountain behind my home was good, especially for pregnant women. Therefore, whenever I was pregnant I told my husband to take soil for me. Now I have eight children, five sons and three daughters and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I’m addicted to eating soil,” Mrs. Bien said.
The edible soil is not the one from the field or garden but soil from a mountain behind Bien’s house. Previously, many mountains had this kind of soil but this source of soil has been exhausted. This soil is found at the depth of 3-7m and people have to use hammers to chisel pieces of soil.
This kind of soil can be eaten immediately but to make it smell good, locals have to process it. First, the soil is cut off into small pieces and cleaned.
The soil has two colors: milky white and blue.
Bien said she sold soil at the local market and this “food” is a favorite of pregnant women.
The family of Mrs. Khong Thi Bien, 80, and Mr. Khong Van Loa in Thong Nhat village, the town of Lap Thach in Vinh Phuc province has maintained the soil eating custom for several generations.
 
The edible soil is not the one from the field or garden but soil from a mountain behind Bien’s house. Previously, many mountains had this kind of soil but this source of soil has been exhausted. This soil is found at the depth of 3-7m and people have to use hammers to chisel pieces of soil.
   
This kind of soil can be eaten immediately but to make it smell good, locals have to process it. First, the soil is cut off into small pieces and cleaned.
The soil has two colors: milky white and blue
These pieces of soil are exposed to the sun before they are smoked. The elders are advised to eat the milky white and the young eat the blue soil.
Pieces of soil are then smoked with leaves to have a special flavor.
Eating this soil feels like to eat dry provisions.
Mr. Khong Van Lai, 45, the youngest son of Mrs. Bien said soil exploitation has created deep trenches in the village.
 
Grandson Khong Tuan Hung gives a piece of soil to his grandfather Khong Van Loc, 59, the eldest son of Mrs. Bien. Mr. Do Van Binh – chief of Thong Nhat village, said the custom of eating soil has no longer existed. Only several elders still keep this custom.
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