Grand Mercure Hanoi - Upscale hotels & resorts

Made from young sticky rice, cốm (green rice) has long been a typical afternoon snack of Hanoians. Each soft grain of green rice strike a characteristic golden green color with the scent of colostrum and cool lotus leaves, exuding the ancient and unique beauty of Hanoi’s autumn. Originating from a simple dish from rustic street vendors, green rice has now become a precious gift for anyone who is in love with Hanoi in autumn. To fully enjoy the flavor of cốm, people often pick up a tiny little bit by two fingers and taste it directly, or dip it with ripe banana, so that the sweetness of the banana blends with the chewy feeling of cốm, as if the whole Hanoi autumn is gradually melting in our taste buds.

In addition, green rice could be combined with many other ingredients or spices to create many unique, attractive and delicious dishes. Below are some delicious cuisine made from cốm:

1. Xôi cốm

The quintessential combination of fresh green rice, lotus seeds, green beans and stir-fried coconut fibers incubated in lotus leaves, the sweet flavor mixed with cốm is an indispensable afternoon gift for a fresh autumn afternoon in Hanoi.

2. Bánh cốm

(Source: Com Nguyen Ninh)

The simple and plain appearance of cốm to be combined with sweet green bean coconut filling wrapped  in lovely square boxes that fully encapsulate the love from the people of the capital.

3. Chè cốm (cốm gruel)

An ideal afternoon gift for anyone who have the chance to visit the capital, as each sip of cốm gruel mixed with sweet green beans and a some coconut milk will definitely satisfy the taste buds of any visitors.

4. Cốm xào (Stir-fried cốm)

Done by simple cooking method with stir-fried cốm with and some ounces of sugar, grated coconut and coconut milk, the sweet and sticky cốm xào accompanied by a warm cup of lotus tea is an Autumn delicacy that can only be found in Hanoi.

5. Chả cốm (cốm patty)

Chả cốm would be fried until golden and fragrant, best when served hot. While the crust is crispy, the inside is soft and supple, could be dipped with soy sauce or chili sauce. Chả cốm can be served as a snack, or on a bowl of vermicelli with tofu and shrimp paste, on bread, or even for daily meals.

6. Bánh xu xê (Xu xê cake)

A familiar type of cake in the lives of Vietnamese people, with chewy texture and a rich, fragrant coconut crumb filling inside, bánh xu xê has become an indispensable element on the wedding banquet table since ancient times until now.

To buy cốm, check out the places below:

1. Com Moc Le Gia – No. 2, Lane 59/130 Me Tri, Nam Tu Liem District – 0985 760 113
2. Com Nguyen Ninh – 11 Hang Than, Ba Dinh, Hanoi – 086 759 1069
3. Com lang Vong Ba Can – No. 19, Lane 85, Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi – 0922 888 899
4. Me Tri sticky rice – No. 11, Lane 50, Me Tri Thuong, Me Tri, Hanoi – 0906 108 455