The Quang Ngai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently announced and promoted its hallmark Tra Bong cinnamon as one of the top Specialty Gifts of Asia.

The cinnamon was conferred the title by the Asian Record Organization in October 2013.

The Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings) applied the specialty along with seven others to the Asian organization in September 2013.

Tra Bong cinnamon, which has been exported to many countries the world over, is of high quality and an unmistakable aroma.

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum which is used in both sweet and savory foods.

Apart from Tra Bong, the trees, which can reach 15m in height and 40cm in trunk diameter, grow profusely in northern Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh provinces, and central Quang Nam and Nghe An provinces.

The trees’ main products are cinnamon barks and essential oil, which have many applications in pharmaceutical, food, perfume industries and cattle raising.

With a special aroma and high content of essential oil, Tra Bong cinnamon is well loved on the local market and other countries such as France, India and South Korea.

Tra Bong’s cinnamon oil and various art items made from cinnamon have made its name locally and abroad.

The areas for growing cinnamon have seen a sharp rise, from 350 hectares in 2007 to 2,000 hectares.

The Asia Record Organization’s recognition of Tra Bong cinnamon is a great opportunity to promote the specialty, boost production and provide jobs and improve locals’ incomes.

Along with Tra Bong cinnamon, seven other Vietnamese specialties are also named top Specialty Gifts of Asia by the Asia Record Organization. They are “banh dau xanh Hai Duong” (cakes made of ground green beans), Thai Nguyen tea, Ngoc Linh ginseng, Buon Ma Thuot coffee, “banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (dew-wetted rice papers), “banh phong sua dua Ben Tre” (Glutinous rice chapatti), and Phu Quoc pepper.

These eight new records are the encouraging outcome of the Vietnam Record Organization’s efforts to promote local specialties. The organization has successfully nominated over 47 Asian records for local iconic dishes.