Milk rice paper facts for kids

Milk rice paper (also called coconut milk rice paper) is a special kind of rice paper from Ben Tre province in Vietnam. It's a popular snack and a tasty part of Vietnamese cooking.

What is Milk Rice Paper?

Milk rice paper is a thin, round sheet made from rice. It starts as a steamed rice crepe and is then dried. While it looks like regular Vietnamese rice paper, there are some key differences.

• Color: Milk rice paper has a milky white color. Regular rice paper is usually clear or see-through.
• Texture: It is thicker and harder than regular rice paper. It also doesn't have the same chewy feel.

What's in It?

The main ingredients for milk rice paper are simple. They include rice flour, cassava flour, water, salt, and sugar. The most important ingredient is coconut milk. This is what gives it its special taste and milky color.

Sometimes, other ingredients are added to make different flavors. These can include:

• Durian (a fruit)
• Black sesame seeds
• Green rice

How Do People Eat It?

Milk rice paper can be eaten as a sweet or savory snack. Most often, people enjoy it as a sweet treat. It's not usually used in many dishes like regular rice paper.

You can eat milk rice paper in a few ways:

• Straight from the package: It's ready to eat as soon as you open it.
• Toasted: Some people toast it over a fire. This makes it super crunchy and brings out the yummy coconut smell.

Traditional Villages

Ben Tre province in Vietnam is famous for its milk rice paper. Many artisan villages there have made it for a long time. Making rice paper is not always a very profitable business. To help these villages survive, the Vietnamese government helps them work together. This way, they can keep their traditions alive.

Some well-known villages that make milk rice paper are Cu Lao May, My Long, and Cai Be. These villages still use old-fashioned methods. They grind rice, grate dried coconut, and dry ingredients in the sun. They don't add any extra chemicals, so the flavor is all natural.

Besides milk rice paper, these villages also make other types of rice paper. Some have dried shrimp, or milk and eggs. Others are used for making spring rolls or egg rolls.

These villages work all year. However, they earn most of their money around the Tet holiday. This is the Vietnamese New Year. During Tet, a family might make hundreds of sheets a day. This is three times more than during a normal time of year!

Usually, about 20 kilograms of batter can make 500 to 600 sheets of milk rice paper.

Modern Production Methods

Not long ago, making milk rice paper was all done by hand. People relied on their skills passed down through generations. This meant that the amount and quality of rice paper could change a lot.

Today, machines are helping to make the process better. Modern machines are used for:

• Grinding rice
• Grating coconuts
• Mixing the batter
• Cutting the finished rice paper
• Vacuum-packing for freshness

These machines help make more rice paper. They also ensure that each sheet has the same shape and flavor. Plus, they help keep the product clean and fresh for longer.