O Mai (Salted or Sugared Dried Fruits)

O Mai is a traditional specialty of Hanoi, which is dried fruits mixed with sugar, salt, lime, chili, and ginger to obtain a harmonious taste of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. The most common fruits used to make O Mai are plum, apricot, peach, dracontomelum, star fruit, tamarind, kumquat, pineapple, and mango.

To Hanoi people, O Mai is a quintessential snack to enjoy and to welcome guests during Tet holiday (Lunar New Year). Its flavour is best brought out with a cup of lotus tea.

In Hanoi, o mai is abundantly sold along Hang Duong Street.

BEST GIFTS FOR: All those people who love trying new foods and snacks.

PRICES: Around 40,000 VND ($1.7) per box of 200g; 90,000 VND ($4) per box of 500g

PORTABLE LEVEL: Manageable

WHERE TO BUY

• Hong Lam store at 11 Hang Duong Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Tien Thinh store at 21 Hang Duong Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Toan Thinh store at 15 Hang Duong Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi