The History of Pho
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- čas přidán 6. 03. 2019
- Learn about the Flavorful Origins of PHO!
Phở, is a Vietnamese Noodle Soup.
But, how did this delicious dish gain its prominence across Vietnam, and then the world?
Let's find out!
Intro to Pho:
Welcome to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, where Pho restaurants can literally be found everywhere. Hanoi is attributed to being the birthplace of Pho, but it is not actually invented here. It is invented 50 miles outside the city, in a village called Van Cu. Yet in these very streets, the very first permanent Pho stalls were created over 100 years ago.
Initial Thought:
But how did this dish beloved by the world come to be? Let’s find out!
Historical setup:
The ingredients used in Pho, and the name itself, can be traced back to both Chinese and French influences. It is speculated that in the 1860s… (link to below)
Noodle Information:
A particular type of rice noodles was invented in Southern China, Shahe Fen, which refers to its place of origin Shahe, in the province of Guangdong. These noodles are indistinguishable from Pho Noodles.
Migratory Chinese:
Its speculated that during this time, migratory workers from Southern China brought this unique style of noodle with them down the Red River into Tonkin, what we know today as Northern Vietnam. But this part of Vietnam was still controlled by China during this time.
This is why some theorized that the word “Pho”, descended from the word “Fun”, the shorthand for the “Sa Hor Fun” rice noodles, because they not only share meaning but also similar pronunciation.
..
Sino-French War:
In 1885, The Sino French war resulted in a treaty between France and China. China allowed France to control Northern Vietnam, aka Tonkin ,This effective created French Indo China.
French Occupation:
When france occupied Vietnam, the brought with them, their desire for tender steak. Which can only be by slaughtering cows, which in Vietnamese traditions were only used as beast of burdens. The leftover bones and parts, are salvaged, and then sold by handful of Hanoi butchers.
Shahe Fen was then met with the sudden surge in beef consumption (phan to pho).
Pot Au Feu:
With the influx of French influence, some also argued that the word Pho is a corruption of the French word “feu” which means fire, and Pho could be a Vietnamese adaptation of the classic French dish ”pot au feu”, which the French surely brought to Vietnam when they came to rule the country: and its speculated the Vietnamese chef who made this for their colonial master borrowed techniques such as blackening root vegetables for a flavourful broth.
..
Pho’s Fusion:
So, was Pho connected to the French? Yes, but no to extent that its completely French. The seasoning is the fusion of multiple cultures: Cardamom comes from India. Star anise, is native to southwest China when used in combination with Vietnamese fish sauce it gives pho its distinctive flavor.
Splitting of Vietnam:
And this dish continued to evolve, even in Vietnam. In 1954, the Communists were in power in the North, and people fled, and with them they brought their cherished Pho recipes into Southern Vietnam.
The Saigon ‘Style’:
Thus, the Saigon style of Pho was born. They were effectively breaking down the barriers of the more traditional North. By adding beansprouts, garnishing herbs on top, and using the sauce Hoisin.
Communism and War:
As the conflicts between North and South continued it manifested into the Vietnam War, which raged full scale from 1963 to 1973, and eventually ended in with the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
The North won, and with the communist in power, people again fled their homes, but this time to all corners of the world. And, once again cherished pho recipes migrated from their homeland. This is how this beloved dish became not only a national favourite, but also one of world’s most enjoyed dish that can be found in every corner of the world.
This is how Pho spread to all corners of the world.
Summary:
Like the country whose history is one of being intertwined by various cultures, and whose people must constantly adapt to survive, the dish has roots in multiple heritages yet retains a distinctive Vietnamese taste. A bowl of pho is more than mere sustenance; it is the expression of Vietnamese identity.
Final Thought:
So, here’s my food for thought:
Is it blasphemy to squirt sriracha and hoisin sauce to a bowl of Pho? Did their ever exist a pure version of Pho Would the creator of Pho condone it modern conception?
Cuisine has never been static, and the idea of authenticity is a constantly moving target. Often when food is referred to as inauthentic the proper follow up question may be, inauthentic to whom? - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I like that notion, "Inauthentic to whom?"
thank you! It's good to hear your feedback ;D
I cannot be the only one eating Pho while watching this right now.
You’re not !
We are two know 😂
Wtf! I'm here too lol!
We eat pho first. Then we search this video. Cause and effect.
Eating pho while watching this. I'm so glad I accidentally stumbled into that noodle shop all those years ago. I've been hooked ever since. This video was incredibly informative. Now on what I eat pho, it will taste that much sweeter.
Deliciously informative! You PHO SHO know your Pho!
Pho goodness sake!
This is such a great educational video. I learned quite a bit about my own culture. Thank you.
I’m Vietnamese and that south Vietnamese pho is so accurate my mom always put beansprout in my pho but I usually take them out cuz I don’t like them. The way I eat my pho is adding hoisin sauce into my pho(sometimes) and I always dip the beef into the hoisin sauce.
What's your all time fav dish? (or give me a top 5)
I grew up only eating southern Vietnamese pho. I can’t even find northern Vietnamese pho in Chicago 🍜 🤤
Both are the same except, Northern Viet Pho is eaten as it is. So no Siracha, No Bean Sprouts, Its just the meat and the bánh phở with the soup of course.
How do you only have 800 subscribers? This video was amazing
Highly underrated channel!!! Your content is quite amazing. And coincidentally you cover all of my favorite foods (phở, khao soi, xiao long bao) haha
Hey, thanks! I appreciate that. Great minds think alike ☺️
Great job and nicely done!🙏👌💋👍🇻🇳🇫🇷🍲
Thank you, anything you want to see next?
Awesome vid! I had no idea there was different versions. I thought southern was universal. As a Vietnamese, I APPROVE
This is a lot of really good detail in this video. I'm into food history to and will definitely be coming back to watch all your videos. One day I'd like to tackle Pho on my channel. When I do I hope to here from you .
I know what you mean, food history is my insatiable curiosity! Let me know if you need a food taster 😋
@@HistoricalEats If you let me pic your food history brain
Nom!!! Feeling like a Pho expert now;)
nom nom nom
This is amazing! Now I'm craving pho 🌸🍜😭
I thought you'd enjoy the music ;D
@@HistoricalEats Growing up in San Jose, with the largest population of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam, I've always wondered about these things! pho is an all time comfort food for me!
Thanks i am Study Culinary arts and i am doing a proyect talking about Pho and this video help me a lot
Oh, thanks so cool! I'm honestly so glad you said that. Makes me feel at least I helped someone 😅
Anyone know the artist & name of the tune used in the intro?
The history of Pho is truly the history of Vietnam!
The history is as rich as its tasty broth!
good stuff my dude
Thanks, my man. I appreciate it!
Interesting how there are so many ideas how one dish got its name!
I know! It's a pretty heated debate too. And, to me, Pho isn't that old. ~100 years, yet its the country most famous dish (born out of colonization).
It's most likely from the Cantonese dish; the pot-au-feu explanation doesn't make sense as no other loanword from French has the ? tone.
Southern is authentic and cool, never really eaten northern in my house. As for the sauce, don’t worry. My bro and dad always like sriracha and hoisin sauce together, where I eat it plain.
Nope both region ảe authentic
great video! now i'm hungry!
LET'S EAT!
I don’t know if you will see this comment since this is an old video, but do you still remember your sources for this video?
Pho my favorite food 😋
So good, right?
Also, it is good to check a video about the origin of Pho on , Theo Dau Giay So channel about the Nguon goc cua Pho in Vietnamese.
Thanks for the recco
good video
Thank you very much!
pho is the only food whereupon tasting it my body was just like... nah nah nah, i need to study the HISTORY of this succulent and restorative dish.
Yes.
That ssl notifaction at the end freak me out
One of the best soups ever invented
I honestly don't know what is French about it. Pho is flat noodles in broth served with slices of beef.
They made phó ga for a long time before the french wanted phó bo tho right?
Nope the original has always been beef.
do sushi next!
Okay! Sushi sounds good 😻
bruh am Vietnamese and idk where it come from lol
Well, I hope you liked the video! Haha
@4:13: If anyone wants to have the best flavor of Pho, Never add sauces + lime to destroy the ultimate purity flavor of Pho, unless the broth is not really good. The first thing to try Pho is the broth!
I think Lemon (not lime) is essential just to bring a little bit of width to the fish-sauce and beef fat flavor; (a little bit like lemon/lime to fish 'n chips). But definitely no sauces - especially HoiSin sauce (which I believe the Chinese use in their egg-noodle dishes). Some people though can't eat a meal without capsaicin, so fresh chili is acceptable; not Sriracha which has all sorts of other seasonings, preservatives and what ever else.
@@matonatomic Vietnamese always uses lime not lemon
@@tl9585 Do you mean Vietnamese people living outside of Vietnam or Vietnamese people living in Vietnam? Because I grew up in Vietnam, and from a young age (40 yrs ago), limes do not exist in Vietnam. I ask around and there's not even a Vietnamese word for Lime.
I always remember eating Pho (in Vietnam) served with Lemon. Only in the western countries, I see it served with lime. Perhaps, people prefer lime because it's not as sour, and has a sweeter taste. But to really balance out the dense beef fatty flavour of (properly cooked) pho, the strength of lemon tops it over lime.
The green sour fruit is called lime, which is much more popular than the yellow one (lemon) as it is a native plant in Southest Asia
But little did you know the vet got this recipe from the Khmer people
That's the next video in working on. Khmer cusine!
Late response . Putting the sauce in the bowl of pho only if you want to spice up your soup, otherwise people just put them in small dishes as dipping sauces for the meats .
2:40,
All I know is it's phoking delicious
Not true, phở was passed on in my family and we have a book that keeps the record of everyone in my family with a pho shop.
@@BaoTrungNguyenSKKUchina invented soy sauce and may be tofu, frence invented french fries 🍟
[new_datas] = are Vietnameses Chineses or was it envahir
[cocochine] = what Chineses established then it goes to India 17th Century
then Moses talk about the Sun, 17th Century or rather 18th Century all we talk is about Earth so Vietnam was founded.
Please practice and learn the the annunciation and definition of the word susTinence. I have no idea of what you said, or meaning.
I never use sauce in my pho. I let the broth and meat do the talking.
Let me about your favorite order
L like pho
Now say with me, Vietnamese Pho is not FRENCH!
Oui c'est bien ça le fait que je ne sais pas
@@HistoricalEats Oui oui!
It is blasphemy to add sweet to pho
Regarding is it blasphemy to add hot sauce to Pho, I will say this: it will drive the original northern Viet creators of Pho absolutely mad to see anything being added to Pho. Even how you eat Pho must be respected by them; you must eat it without even utensils, kind of like how to eat the Japanese mistso soup. Hope that helps. :-D
Where do you get the info that Northern Vietnamese eat Pho without utensils? 🤣 chopsticks and a spoon are necessary! For the last slurp of broth then yes, you dont need any of them, just slurping it up like miso soup.
@@justhuyen One of my father's best friend told us this. We are from northern Vietnam.
@@ToiYeuYAHWEH maybe he meant it as a joke... I'm from Northen Vietnam too and have been living there for whole my life. Miso soup is not a comparable dish here because there is no noodles in miso soup. In order to eat the Pho noodles, you need Chopsticks, no question there.
I've been to Hanoi and the food is awful with the exception of the best hotel. The restaurants are mediocre and the open market is repugnant.
You could be a picky eater. Vietnamese food is not for everyone. I brought my French friend with me to Vietnam and we only ate street food .He enjoyed all the dishes and he always finished his bowl before mine.
I am really sorry but the history's explanation of the video is so wrong at the beginning.
"Before the Sino-French war this area was still technically China"......lmao What!?
Well, the modern day borders didn't exist, right? A lot of countries, not only Vietnam, are recent phenomenon. This Northern area was considered as a Vassal State of Imperial China, called, Nam Viet or Nanyue.
That was why MongoMonrachy never ever won!!!
Actually in china, there is NOTHING like Pho. Even a Chinese lady whom we meet told us that. So no, there is NO chinese influence what so ever.
Nothing like Pho, that's quite true... but the noodles are said to have been imported in because of Chinese migratory workers.
@@HistoricalEats That's just a theory at best.
@@ToiYeuYAHWEH Exactly.
Gabestronomy You probably don’t know this, but there is another delicious Vietnamese dish called “Bánh Cuốn” that is made exactly like the phở 🍲 noodles.
And that dish has been around for hundreds of years. We strongly believe that the phở noodles came from there.
@@ToiYeuYAHWEH Oh, how interesting. Let me look into this dish a bit further. Not much information available but thank you for sharing!
pho has 0 thing to do with frenchy frogs
Nom!!! Feeling like a Pho expert now;)
n0m n0m nnn00oo0O0oomz