Lam The Cuong – Mr. Chocolate
Lam The Cuong – Mr. Chocolate
Lam The Cuong – Mr. Chocolate
(Vietnam Tourism Assessment) – Chocolate soothes, comforts, tantalizes. It might probably keep well-being, cut back stress, calm kids, and counteract melancholy. Mountaineers save their final piece of chocolate to rejoice reaching new heights; suitors give it to indicate the depth of their devotion. It has even been used as a foreign money. All of which makes Lam The Cuong very glad he sorted the household’s cocoa timber in the course of the warfare.
“I used to be the one one which did,” says the now 68-year-old from Can Tho. “All of the others minimize them all the way down to develop different vegetation. In 1960 there had been a development to plant cocoa in the entire nation. Farmers right here additionally planted quite a bit and my household put in 300 timber. After three years they started to bear fruit (beans) however by then the warfare was heating up so not many individuals bothered about them or knew their value. Many farmers minimize the timber all the way down to develop different vegetation, however my father advised my sister and I: “Attempt to make chocolate from them, kids.
The household has labored this land for 200 years. Mr Cuong’s patch covers 1.2 hectares and was left by his grandparents. Because of obeying his father and his personal initiative, he has left his personal legacy. “Beforehand,” he says, “I labored within the fields however after seeing that arduous work didn’t pay, I switched to planting timber and gardening”.
“Remembering what my father had stated, I learn books about cocoa timber printed by the French Tropical Plant Analysis Institute. Helped by what I discovered, my sister and I succeeded in making chocolate from the beans. Since then, each time it’s a household anniversary, we make chocolate to deal with our kin and neighbours. All of them say it’s scrumptious and love its distinctive flavour.”
After the warfare in 1977, the International Commerce Division in Can Tho started on the lookout for items to export and heard about Mr Cuong’s chocolate in Muoi Cuong. “After they sampled it, they requested for recommendation from Ha Noi,” he says. “A delegation got here down instantly so I invited them to drink it. In addition they stated it was scrumptious and straightaway began planning to export it. Many individuals requested why I didn’t plant extra timber and promote extra of the product. That made me assume and I managed to hyperlink up with Can Tho College Agriculture Division to promote timber to farmers. I additionally purchased new ones to plant to maintain the entire course of going.
“At the moment, I used to be promoting my merchandise to individuals like Bien Hoa Espresso Manufacturing unit, Vinacafe and Bien Hoa Sweet and Biscuit Firm, however continued to course of cocoa with the household recipe. However now in my outdated age, I promote solely fermented beans. The processing is principally for vacationers”.
The chocolate didn’t simply have the backing of native authorities, it gained fame overseas, too. And in 2012 the initiative was supported by the Danish Worldwide Improvement Company (DANIDA). A grateful Mr. Cuong says: “The Danish ambassador has visited my facility a number of occasions and supported tasks for the classroom, methods to do excursions and methods to run a homestay enterprise. He gave tools resembling air conditioners, beds and mattresses that enabled us to increase and do homestays”.
“I began with solely two rooms however now have 4 because of the European Union who got here in to assist group tourism in Can Tho. It offered lessons and tools. He additionally had assist from the Tourism Promotion Middle and Journey firms however he additionally used social media as a platform. As curiosity grew, he says: “The largest shock for me was that one of the best ‘promoting’ was phrase of mouth. Many vacationers stated that they knew concerning the Muoi Cuong homestay due to their pals’ introduction. A lot of journey firms introduced their company right here after which shared info with different companies”.
Most of my company are from abroad. After they come right here, they take pleasure in cooking with households, being launched to the cocoa backyard and studying methods to develop and course of cocoa. They will additionally make chocolate instantly with me. Annually about 1,000 guests keep right here.
“Though I needed to study homestays, I’ve by no means attended lessons or coaching packages on cultivation strategies. I’ve been farming since I used to be younger and have acquired my data from expertise. The timber in my backyard are grown organically – not through the use of chemical fertilizers.”
The repute of Muoi Cuong backyard is such that it has unfold past vacationers to farmers. And Mr Cuong now trains them on methods to develop and course of the cocoa themselves. As well as, he lectures college students on the College of Utilized Biotechnology at Can Tho College.
Many worldwide company come to see cocoa processing by hand and likewise take heed to him speak them by means of it. Fluent in French in addition to English, he says: “I didn’t have a lot issue in enterprise. Muoi Cuong homestay is a favorite vacation spot for a lot of vacationers, journey brokers and metropolis leaders. Lodging continues to be restricted and typically I’ve to refuse a reserving. However I don’t need to rent individuals and like that solely my spouse and I serve the guests.”
It’s the private contact with the chocolate, too, and that has attracted the “candy tooths” of the world.
Viet Hung
