Tam Dao National Park overlaps high mountains with hundreds of thousands of streams and a variety of mixed forests alternating primitive forests. The chit (thysanolaena latifolia) forest is also a very specific feature of the mountainous areas of Tam Dao.
The reed forest usually grows on high hills while the chit forest grows along streams and forms forests covering alluvial flats. That tree provides leaves to wrap the cake and also for a valuable specialty. It is the chit worm, a tonic, a rare dish often compared to 'Cordyceps' in Chinese herbal medicine.
At the end of the year, people of San Diu and Cao Lan ethnic groups often go to the forest to collect chit leaves to pack the cakes and also catch them to soak in wine called chit wine. In the bush, find the top of the tree that is withered and peel it off to catch the worm lying in the middle of the tree. The ivory-white caterpillar is only about two knuckles long like a small silkworm. Each person, even actively trying to pass through the forest, can only catch a few dozen. The caterpillar can be immediately dropped in bottles with unlimited quantities, filled with alcohol soaked and placed in the corner of the cabinet. About a month later it will become a toning wine with a slightly ivory-white look. This wine is very suitable for men. Those who are more careful, drop freshly fresh water into salt water, rinse and take out to drain. Use fragrant glutinous rice in a golden roast pan and then sprinkle in turn to continue stirring with glutinous rice until the worms are well browned like roasted rice, then take them out to soak in wine or save for use. This wine has an eye-catching yellow color and is very delicious. This kind of worm in Tam Dao is both a medicine, a rare and very nutritious food for sick people. Young children and the elderly if regularly nourished by steamed worm and egg yolk will be quickly stronger.
The elderly there also said that: In the ancient time, mandarins often encouraged the local people to go into the forest to catch the worm for the Royal Institute of Medicine of the court, each gram was awarded nearly 1 ounce of silver. This action not only provided the precious medicine but also contributed to protect green forests.
Vinh Phuc Portal
