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SOUR BUONG BAMBOO SHOOTS, TOP OF KIM BOI PRODUCTS

“BUONG VANG” SOUR BAMBOO SHOOT, TOP OF KIMBOI!

Hoa Binh is gifted by nature with many types of products and forest products, including many types of bamboo shoots, especially “Buong Vang”. The culinary culture of the Northwest Mountains and forests is embedded in bamboo shoots, an ingredient firmly associated with the life of the Muong people. Over generations, the Muong in Hoa Binh have enhanced their expertise in processing bamboo shoots into flavoursome and delectable dishes, eventually forming unique consumption patterns and custom

“Buong” bamboo trees grow in the mountains and forests of Northwest Vietnam, but they're most popular in the districts of Kim Boi, Lac Son, Lac Thuy, Tan Lac, Da Bac, and Luong Son, all located in Hoa Binh province, where many Muong ethnic people reside.  Among all bamboo shoot varieties in Vietnam, Hoa Binh's is renowned for its exquisite flavour. “Buong” bamboo shoots yield the largest tuber among bamboo shoot species, which is round and dense. When boiled, it has a slightly sweet, fragrant, and sturdy taste. For centuries, the Muong ethnic community has realised that over-fermenting bamboo shoots results in excessive acidity and undesirable soft, mushy consistency. To prevent this, they wash bamboo shoots in stream water, immerse the jar containing sour bamboo shoots in a nearby stream, and store it for a prolonged period. The bamboo shoots are always stored at a temperature below 24oC and protected from sunlight with a cover to maintain the highest quality. After several months of harvesting, we now possess a jar containing fragrant, crispy, sour, and delicate bamboo shoots, a truly remarkable achievement. In order to introduce the Muong people's customary bamboo shoots to both domestic and international markets, the Kim Boi Joint Stock Company has integrated the Muong people's indigenous knowledge of natural fermentation and incubation in cold water in combination with various ingredients. Modern equipment controls the pH levels in bamboo shoots, facilitates industrial-scale production within a closed factory protected by anti-insect and pest nets, and utilizes sterilization and disinfection equipment that uses UV rays. The bamboo shoots are soaked, fermented, and cooled in closed barrels or tanks, with every stage being meticulously monitored to guarantee food hygiene and safety. This process results in the production of "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots", one of the highest quality products of Kim Boi.

“Buong” bamboo shoots are harvested annually from the 6th lunar month until the 8th lunar month as they provide the best flavour and nourishment during this period.  Kim Boi Joint Stock Company is not only a buyer of bamboo shoots but also takes an active role in developing areas for raw materials and promoting agricultural extension models of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hoa Binh Province.   Establishing sustainable planting areas for bamboo in Hoa Binh province to ensure the long-term growth of raw materials. The project aims to cultivate new bamboo shoots and and optimise their utilisation in a sustainable manner. These projects not only facilitate the creation of fresh, green forest sites to sustain ecological balance but also generates employment opportunities for hundreds and thousands of forest farmers, poor households and disadvantaged populations. Additionally, ethnic minorities dwelling in remote zones accrue additional income from the trade of raw bamboo shoots, which partly contributes to curbing hunger and reducing poverty while advancing the development of new rural regions. By contrast, the Kim Boi Joint Stock Company possesses a sustainable raw material cultivation, comprising a high-quality growing area that provides an ample source of bamboo shoots for processing and production of bamboo-based goods. This not only meets the surging demands of consumers in the foreseeable future but also caters to the export requirements.

The "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots" produced by Kim Boi Joint Stock Company have been thoroughly researched before being packaged with visually pleasant aesthetics. The product is sealed with cutting-edge materials that ensure optimal preservation, preventing any aroma from the bamboo shoots to be emitted whether stored in regular fridges or on shelves awaiting purchase.  The "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoot" product is completely free from chemicals, from the growth and care of the bamboo shoots to pre-processing, preservation, final production, and packaging. Thus, it can be regarded as a wholly natural product. Moving forward, we acknowledge the increasing demand for high-quality, organic food in the global market. Therefore, we have conducted comprehensive research and development to guarantee the triumph of this product. In the coming times, we aspire to comply with organic standards. At present, we are collaborating closely with two local processing facilities for uncooked bamboo shoots in Ngoc Lau and Tuan Dao communes, located at the woodland entrance of the first-rate bamboo shoot area in Lac Son district. In this model, Kim Boi is offering supervision, technology transfer, and co-investment. The aim is to decrease the period for processing and preserving freshly harvested bamboo shoots, ensuring unadulterated purity and nutritional content.

The Kim Boi Joint Stock Company has employed modern methods for processing and advanced packaging technology, along with innovative packaging materials, to address the limitations inherent in the traditional method of sour bamboo shoot production of the Muong people. The resultant product is a fusion of the past and present that is characterized by a rich and satisfying flavour. The exceptional qualities of "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots" are unmatched by any other product of its kind available in the market. These qualities include a stable acidity, a characteristic natural aroma, and a delightful crispiness and uniqueness to the palate. "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots" is a completely natural fermented food that can be consumed immediately as a condiment. The product offers fibre, micronutrients and vitamins to aid the digestive system, reducing the likelihood of obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension and adverse effects associated with gout. It can be used as a seasoning or by vegetarians.

The product has earned the trust of consumers due to its accessibility, versatility in various preparations, and the determined endeavours of Kim Boi Joint Stock Company, leading to its receipt of the ISO 22000 certification, the 2018 HACCP certification- TCVN5603-2023 for both manufacturing and export operations. The product has won the esteemed accolades of the gold medal for high-quality and safe food for public health and the Certificate of Typical Rural Industrial Products at the regional level in 2022. Certificate for Typical Rural Industrial Products of Hoa Binh Province 2020-2023. Certificate for High-Quality Vietnamese Goods for Five Consecutive Years, 2018-2022. The "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoot" product has fulfilled stringent criteria for clean and safe food and is now available in all supermarkets across 64 provinces and cities in Vietnam. It is carried by popular retailers such as Big C, Lotte, AEON, Green Department Store, Mega Market, CO.OP MART, and WINMART. "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoot" meets export standards, specifically the HACCP-TCVN5603-2023, making it available in major international markets such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Euro zone, including the Netherlands, Germany, and Czechia. We are consistently seeking new international markets, striving to foster commerce and establish norms and criteria to surmount protective barriers in compliance with individual regulations of regions worldwide. Our aim is to facilitate future exports of our product to countries in the Middle East, members of the British Union, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.  These developments bode well for the agriculture sector in Hoa Binh province generally and for Kim Boi Joint Stock Company in particular, as the availability of increasingly superior agricultural products continues to enhance the reputation of Vietnamese cuisine in international markets.

The introduction of "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoot" has made a considerable positive contribution to the development of the rural economy, addressing employment challenges both directly and indirectly, and providing a reliable source of income for unskilled labourers, including those for ethnic minorities and female workers.

“Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots” are the fruits of centuries of creativity and diligence by the Muong community. Kim Boi Joint Stock Company takes immense pride in preserving and enhancing this culinary heritage, transforming it into an industrial export product. "Buong Vang Sour Bamboo Shoots" not only celebrates traditional cuisine in domestic households but also introduces it to global audiences. From there, we preserve a valuable traditional product for future generations while simultaneously inheriting and developing it, ultimately promoting the essence of Vietnamese cuisine to friends worldwide..