Candied cà-na (white canarium or Chinese olive)
It’s not the black stuff they throw on your pizzas or the green thing they toothpick on your sandwich. How many of us city kids have tasted the tartness with a tiny sweet afterpunch of this Mekong delta fruit? It’s addictive like fresh squeezed orange juice on a summer day. Speaking street tongue, it’s nature’s crack in oblong shape.
Eat ’em fresh with chilipepper salt, or candy them with sugar and heat, it’s how kids down South do it with the cà na they shake off from bushes on the riverbanks. And argue if you may, kids know tasty food. The shape is really the only link cà na has with the Western olive (Olea europaea), though it’s at least two times bigger. Does the name “cà na” mean anything?
“Cà” is tomato, and “na” is the northern word for sweetsop, two totally unrelated species to this ovoid fruit. So “cà na” is not a compound noun. I’m no etymologist but here’s my best guess: “cà na” |kah nah| is a shortened vietnamization of the Thai word “kanachai”, from which cultigen taxonomists derive the the scientific name “canarium”, a genus with about 75 species native to the tropics. The cà na we eat and love from those riverbank bushes belongs to the species Canarium nigrum (black canarium) and Canarium album (white canarium), or “trám đen” and “trám trắng” in pure Vietnamese. Another delta variety is Canarium subulatum, pointy at both ends and sappy like green bananas.
Words on the net claim that cà na‘s acidity is good when you have a cold, drink too much, or wants to lower your weight, thus not so recommended for skinny sticks like me. I’ve never popped a fresh one myself, but this is the most (and only) mouth-watering description I could find on the net (translated from the Vietnamese original):
Every year, in roughly August or September, when the Mekong flushes the paddy fields, the cà na trees bear their first fruits. What could be better than rowing a canoe downstream, then tying it to a cà na trunk base by the riverbank to cast your fishing net, and while waiting, dip a bursting green ripen fruit into chilipepper salt to soak your soul with its wild and clean sweetness?
The first cà na‘s I’ve had are bright yellow with cracked skin, as big as a big green grape, resembling petrified dinosaur eggs, sold in glass jar among the ô mai and the salted plums.
The first nibble must be executed with caution. It’s firm and sound, with one big hard seed. No wonder the folks at home call the American football the cà na ball: they look and feel the same, only smaller. The flesh is dense like an old coconut’s meat, sour like lemon leaves, yet sweet like licorice blended with a dash of sea salt. How they’re made is a mystery to me.
Address: Vua Khô Bò & Ô Mai
2549 S King Rd #A-B
San Jose, CA 95121
(408) 531-8845
Also from here, also fruitilicious:
1. banana tootsie roll
2. ô mai (spiced fruit ball)
Other informative links on the Chinese olives:
– a list of different cultivars in China
– Autumn olive
This post is submitted to Delicious Vietnam #11, March edition, hosted by The Culinary Chronicles. I’ll head to her blog for more yummy posts on Vietnamese food this month, and many thanks to the Ravenous Couple and Anh for creating this event!
Its such as you read my mind! You seem to grasp a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply can do with some p.c. to power the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is fantastic blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
1Some truly interesting info , well written and generally user pleasant.
2Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
3I am no longer certain where you are getting your info, however good topic. I must spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thanks for wonderful information I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
4I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂
5Well I truly enjoyed reading it. This tip offered by you is very effective for accurate planning.
6What i do not realize is if truth be told how you’re now not actually much more smartly-liked than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You understand therefore significantly on the subject of this matter, produced me personally believe it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women are not interested unless it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. At all times maintain it up!
7I like this post, enjoyed this one thankyou for putting up.
8Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
9I think this web site has some really great information for everyone. “A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness.” by Zadok Rabinwitz.
10Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a perfect site.
11Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
12You got a very fantastic website, Sword lily I discovered it through yahoo.
13I needed to draft you that little remark to thank you so much as before about the beautiful tactics you’ve discussed on this website. It has been quite tremendously open-handed with you to provide openly all a number of us would’ve offered for sale for an ebook to help make some bucks for their own end, most notably considering the fact that you could possibly have tried it in the event you decided. The strategies as well acted like the great way to know that other individuals have the same dreams much like my very own to understand good deal more regarding this matter. I am sure there are several more pleasant moments up front for individuals who see your blog.
14I have to convey my respect for your kindness giving support to persons that have the need for assistance with this particular situation. Your personal dedication to passing the message up and down ended up being surprisingly productive and has in most cases allowed employees like me to realize their desired goals. Your interesting suggestions indicates much to me and a whole lot more to my colleagues. Regards; from each one of us.
15Thanks for some other informative blog. Where else could I am getting that kind of info written in such an ideal method? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
16I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
17Hey There. I found your weblog using msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
18I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of excellent information, bookmarked (:.
19The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
20You have brought up a very great details, thankyou for the post.
21Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
22Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and net and this is really irritating. A good web site with exciting content, that is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web-site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
23Very interesting topic, thanks for posting.
24Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the ebook in it or something. I believe that you just can do with a few percent to power the message home a little bit, however instead of that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
25Hey, you used to write magnificent, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
26I do like the manner in which you have presented this matter and it really does give us some fodder for consideration. However, coming from just what I have observed, I only trust as other remarks pack on that people remain on point and in no way start upon a tirade associated with the news of the day. Yet, thank you for this exceptional point and even though I do not necessarily go along with it in totality, I value the point of view.
27I discovered your weblog web site on google and test a number of of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the very good operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Searching for ahead to reading more from you in a while!…
28Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!
29hi!,I really like your writing very much! proportion we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to look you.
30I like this web site very much so much superb info .
31I just like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and take a look at once more right here regularly. I’m somewhat sure I will be informed many new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the following!
32Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
33Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .
34Appreciate it for helping out, superb info .
35Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
36Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
37Wonderful work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
38Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
39Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos. I’d like to peer extra posts like this .
40It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
41My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web log!
42I gotta favorite this web site it seems invaluable very useful
43Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
44You actually make it seem really easy together with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually one thing which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I’m taking a look ahead to your subsequent post, I’ll try to get the cling of it!
45I have learn several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you place to make this type of magnificent informative site.
46Just wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity on your put up is just nice and i can assume you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Well together with your permission let me to take hold of your RSS feed to keep updated with coming near near post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the gratifying work.
47Awesome site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get feed-back from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!
48Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal site.
49I was just looking for this information for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top web sites are full of garbage.
50