My Quest to Save Traditional Vietnamese Candy from Extinction

[@thai33oz]

I remember when I was a small toddler in Sóc Trăng Vietnam, a guy would come by and make that last candy, that you displayed in the video, in person. We called it Kẹo kéo. My dad wouldn't let me eat it because it was too unhealthy. But I would stand there and admire the guy stretching the candy. I am now 34 years old and that candy will always have a place in my heart because of that memory. And whenever I got back to Vietnam, I would strive to find it. Although no1 makes it in person anymore.

[@vivt6421]

From what I remember of keo keo 20+ years ago is that it is softer, but I have only managed to find the hard variety in Hue. I don't know if our taste buds changed or the taste and texture are not the same anymore.

[@thai33oz]

@@vivt6421 probably it was softer since it was made in the spot and the candy didn't have time to harden yet

[@leehaseley2164]

It was absolutely wonderful to see the traditional production methods still alive and that these treats are still made with love. I think that traditional sweets like these are quite polarising; people either love or hate them. I absolutely love them.

[@TheDarkHarper]

This channel need more subs, the producton quality has increased exponentially, this is amazing - more Vietnam content!

[@andyt3343]

You are way better as a foreigner in VN showing our great culture in food than that other guy who cashed out and ran away to USA during the pandemic instead of supporting VN where the country gave him his first break

[@TheFurlock]

The value of the heart, is that you are home in the places you go. That makes you the star in your productions. :)

[@origreena]

As a Vietnamese, I have loved these candies since I was a child, but as a designer, for kids, these candies won't sell, their local brand packaging is drowned in a sea of eyes popping colors of the commercial candies packaging. And it is actually hard to find them even when you are craving these traditional candies.

[@peaceleader7315]

Capitalism coloured candy 🍬.. hmmmm.. like that of a perfect chemical spraying capitalistic fruit and vegetables.. hmmmm.. ( I would rather share my organic apple 🍎 with a fruit fly worm 🐛.. yup. Half each.

[@bachdinh4404]

Thank you for introducing these delicious traditional candies to more audience Andrew. My 3 year old, who is born in the US, loves mè xửng, especially the ones brought back from Vietnam whenever my mom visits.

[@mafkrimnra8084]

Luv this old school edition of candies , tradition that should not be forgotten

[@dennyc1205]

Super interesting and nice that you're supporting/promoting overlooked, artisanal candy. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheRebornofSocialVietSub]

you look alike the dude from australia from the best ever food review show right?

[@johnlombardi2325]

I just found your videos.... dude amazing... i feel like im watching anthony bourdain 2.0. AMAZING !

[@blessedbeauty2293]

- So glad your helping keep their traditions alive ❤

[@khiemthedream]

Thank you Andrew for making this type of video. It makes me appreciate traditional way of life and enjoyment.

[@BobaPhettamine]

your production level is amazing won't be long till your channel takes off

[@datqn7244]

a bit more than 20 years ago, it's still quite common to see Traditional Pulled Candy (Kẹo kéo) sellers around Ho Chi Minh City. The seller carried the big block of candy and pulled into 15cm one when ordered, it was extremely soft so it was impossible to hold in straight. A few years after, these sellers disappeared. Later, kẹo kéo was sold at restaurant by sellers with the loud speakers who mostly used the candied as a way to sell their singing skill. Because of these sellers with the loud speakers, these speakers are now call loa kẹo kéo (Pulled Candy Speaker).

[@TheBureauAsia]

Another great vid, keep bringing us these interesting topics and ways of life!

[@Eric-qm4vm]

Hi Andrew, great content always. Your videos are extremely high quality. Every camera shot is a work of art. I appreciate you. Thanks for sharing.

[@joanneganon7157]

Hey Andrew,I used to choose Sesame candy over chocolate. Now I cant eat Seeds of any kind 😢! These Folks do a wonderful job. What ever gets the job done🤭. JO JO IN VT 🇺🇲💞

[@wellnesscoachbycheriesagcal]

so good of you to help keep this tradition alive, good on you mate 👍

[@iamgeok]

Just stubbles across your channel. Who are you and why do you only have 78k subscribers? Your videos are insanely good! Loving the vibe of it all. Keep it up!

[@kevinyoung3435]

I tried the semi clear peanut/sesame candy a few years ago and enjoyed the texture and taste!! But being type 1 diabetic now I got to watch My sugars.

[@ballistic350]

I demand this channel 1mil by next week , awesome videos..as always documentary also

[@yapaul6226]

They need a marketing team and branding. Maybe put those rock hard candy on a stick and watch it sell. Go back and let the candy manufacturer know and watch it sell. Brand it with a nice wrapper. Trust me on this

[@mabeSc]

Yes, I could see these types of candies being sold all over the West if they had better marketing and packaging. The sesame one at the beginning of the video looks particularly good!

[@leonardpearlman4017]

Some of that sesame candy (also with cashews, black sesame) reaches the US, sometimes it's a little fancy, with sheets of a kind of rice-starch paper on the outside so it doesn't stick to you. It's good! Also cakes of sugar, and best of all cakes of palm sugar! You have to look for actual Vietnamese products (there are a lot of Vietnamese sounding brands, but the product is from Thailand or China) but I think they are worth looking for. I have to go to another city really, usually Orlando or Tampa FLorida. If I'm lucky I might go to some Vietnamese grocery, then a restaurant, maybe a bakery (!) and drive home with a car full of food! Maybe eating one of those famous sandwiches on the drive, even though in theory I'm not hungry by then. Anyway, it's nice to know more about that candy, which is great stuff if you like sesame seeds. It seems almost kind of nutritious, for candy.

[@bache3145]

Wow those are my childhood memories sweet treat!

[@vicl1288]

Another great video. Andrew, you must have missed a very interesting point. The huge spoons they used to stir the pan were made from steel helmet left behind from the war time.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

I did mention that, I thought they were Kevlar though.

[@nocancelcultureaccepted9316]

The helmet paint contains toxic lead mixed with candies. Yummy!

[@simonstergaard]

gonna go look and demand that my local vietnamese supermarket have this...

[@dragoonzen]

this was a amazing video, love vietnamese candy!

[@GabsR-N]

Maaan, those all look super tasty!! 🤤 Great video as always Andrew!! 😁👌🏽

[@Unhomiee]

Not to take anything away from these people, but the "sugar block" is really a caramel block at some stage of the crystalization, given how they're cooking sugar water over heat (since sugarcane juice is sugar + water and other stuff).

[@kenngo4434]

brings back memories.

[@anitalee675]

Origreena, as a Vietnamese designer you can probably lend a hand in designing and making a new and delicious looking packaging to save this old traditional candies 🎉

[@nocancelcultureaccepted9316]

Unfortunately, these days the product contains high level of lead and chromium from water. It’s not safe for kids to consume.

[@nocancelcultureaccepted9316]

Due to lead and chromium in water, products made in Vietnam are not safe for children.

[@janicebolosan119]

I feel the same way about Chinese candies! Hard to find, even in the local Asian markets!

[@ward902]

Bro, Tet is Luna New Year not Chinese New Year

[@NGUYEN-TUAN-1975]

Tet is lunar holiday, is moon holiday. It concerns to rice agricultures. So, lunar new year is from Viet ancients, living from the est of china to north of Vietnam. Many of culture holiday in now, both China and Vietnam, is from Viet ancients

[@ward902]

Its from the cycle of the moon. @@NGUYEN-TUAN-1975

[@NathanDrake-hm6li]

This is so nostalgic

[@nates3397]

Awesome video!

[@Dixie_Normus_]

I've had something similar to this in the Philippines. Forgot what it was called but it is something akin to the taste of muscovado. I love it but gave me a hell of a stomach ache.

[@gsutherland3614]

AWESOME!!! my ONE request, when you cut to a native speaker and overlay subtitles, please leave like a half-second gap for us to catch up.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Noted!

[@anonymousperson2345]

💛💛💛

[@LilyBeth-wm6lg]

Hi Andrew ❤🇵🇭

[@Sir_Sway]

lovin this candy video

[@JackLuong]

I'm vietnamese but I had to read the subtitiles in english to understand that the uncles and aunties were saying, their accent is very heavy

[@MightyBlade0404]

realizing it was a helmet caught me off gaurd, lovely video tho.

[@mariaannainditahernawati7132]

very sureal right?

[@mariaannainditahernawati7132]

kira2 helm yg dipakai itu bekasnya tentara kan? sangat random

[@KennyNoun]

When are you going to take a trip to Cambodia?

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Lao first but I will make it to Cambodia at some point

[@wetwork777]

Do any of the candy makers sell their products online? (It would help their business) Otherwise I'll have to go to Little Saigon and look for some. 🙏

[@KFC431]

Thanks for your effort on spreading love to these traditional candies. I already tried some of them during the chinese new years. But personally, I think they are too sweet and may content too much calories. I think it would be nice if they made versions that are not as sweet, so people can eat with or without tea. Food in modern day contains more calories than before, so it's also harder to stay fit. I'm vietnamese living in Canada, but Vietnam will face same challenge as it's developping and people would be able to upgrade their living standards and having more access to caloric foods. I was born in Canada, but tbh, I want to go live in Vietnam.

[@ramza78]

The only problem with those candies is it’s too hard! Oh btw you’re supposed to sing while giving out the candies!! That’s how they sell candies in the streets there!!!

[@alexandersupertramp7191]

thats not sugar thats Vietnamese fudge lol

[@AnaFerreira-kt8to]

The traditional goes from generetions to generations. It is a lot of work and the young might not want to do the hard work in the rural areas.

[@edward2448]

Hey Andy, I personally would prefer the traditional candy but they need to get some flavors. I was a little put off by the guys with cigarettes in their mouth as they are working. So many places you go hygiene doesn't seem to be a problem. Not exactly diabetic friendly. It's always interesting to see village life. I would like to see where it ends up for commercial use. Seeya next time. ✝️

[@amandajumyirriram838]

10:05 is that jungkook on the wallpaper?

[@WeiJian393]

heres an idea feed them the candies when they are like super young so that just like commercial candy they wilol get addicted like drugs.

[@Mindblown-Scence]

where is cover pic a girl licking lolly ? what a cool pic! why delete it ?

[@TradingTheBias]

I really enjoy your videos but I am not a fan of music playing when you are talking.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

🙏 Still working on the best way to use music

[@TradingTheBias]

@@Andrew_Fraser Ok good. Just some feedback from one Aussie to another mate. Keep up the work man.

[@semistro]

4:44 I wouldn't buy it, that guy is smoking a cigarette directly above the hot mixture.

[@drissaudia1323]

17:28 candy too hard. That will break their teeth and in Vietnam they are poor and can’t afford the dentist! Ha 😜😝😛ha ha ha

[@blah7745]

Candy with a hint of cigarette ash.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

It’s that specialty flavor

[@Stutterstun]

Title is bit of a reach...

[@zellcrs]

littering and, littering and, littering and

[@larrywhiteheadsr]

Very sad you would make a comment about an American soldier's helmet. This is supposed to be about food. I will unsubscribe.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

I don’t think I said it in any derogatory manner. I just think it’s a fascinating. We visited two separate factories in different regions. Both use helmet scoops. There must be something about the material that makes them perfect for this application.

[@nocancelcultureaccepted9316]

As a Vietnamese, I have had my fair share of candies and what not. These days I wouldn’t bother with the Vietnamese candies anymore because they have high level of lead.

[@quantruong9078]

Ey Andrew..the word tet is pronounced as thet...any word that starts with a letter T is pronounced as TH...opposite from english..just a heads up..great vid btw

[@HoangLam]

What? Andrew said it perfectly.

[@quantruong9078]

@HoangLam I heard him say tet not thet...I could be mistaken tho

[@TheBureauAsia]

Out of curiosity, how would you say the number 8? I need to get this right 😅

[@quantruong9078]

@@TheBureauAsia Tam

[@TheBureauAsia]

@@quantruong9078 I know, but is it with a 'th'?

[@andysneddon8288]

Honestly, Andrew, sugar is now worse than cigarettes, these poor people need to diversify like those who stopped rice farming for crabs in the last video. Also, stop saying 'wow' it's pathetic like Sunny's girl who says OMG before she speaks. You are all pretty wonderful in my opinion, just get un-original for a change.

[@kelliqh2721]

I loved watching this Andrew..... But what the hell..... What happened to "lollies and Aluminium", do you think that just Yanks are watching !!!!!!, 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘 Keep the lingo alive mate !!!!!!

[@TheBureauAsia]

Haha, the aluminum got me too 😄

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Haha, to my shame, I've picked up a few American expressions that have snuck in along the way 🤦. I blame the American ex and having lived overseas for so long. Not great excuses, I'm aware.

[@kelliqh2721]

@@Andrew_Fraser ❤