Pop Rice

Pop rice is a traditional puffed rice treat originating from the Mekong Delta area. This crispy puffed rice is made with a decades-old technique. Whole grains of rice with their husks intact are poured into a large pot that’s previously been filled with black sand from the Mekong River. As the mixture is stirred over a fire, the rice begins to puff and pop, and it is later filtered twice through a mesh in order to remove the black sand and the remaining husks. The crispy rice is then placed into another wok-shaped pot and mixed with a syrup consisting of sugar and water. The syrup can be additionally flavored with anything from coconut milk, green tea, and caramel to peanuts or ginger. While still hot, the rice and syrup mixture is flattened with a rolling pin and cut into squares before it’s enjoyed or sold to hungry customers.