Botanical of the Month: Đìa Siêu

Each month, we spotlight one of the many indigenous Vietnamese and Southeast Asian botanicals used to make Sông Cái Distillery’s gins. This month of February, we delve into the cultural significance of Đìa Siêu.

The Đìa Siêu plant is a woody perennial that grows in Sa Pa, a striking mountainous district in the northwestern province of Lào Cai, Vietnam. Technically a type of liana — a long-stemmed, woody vine that uses trees or rocks for vertical support — Đìa Siêu belongs to the Moraceae, a family of flowering plants including fig, banyan and mulberry commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions such as Asia and the Pacific islands.

A Wellness Ingredient for the Red Dzao People

Gỗ Đia Siêu - Đia Siêu wood

Đìa Siêu is a Hmong-Dzao term, the spoken language of the Red Dzao ethnic group. Đìa (“medicine”) Siêu (“reinvigorate the tired body”) collectively means a cure for body aches and exhaustion.

Fun Fact: Đìa Siêu does not have a literal Vietnamese language translation nor is it considered a common term by the Vietnamese people.

The Red Dzao, one of the 54 ethnic groups, were said to have migrated from China to northern Vietnam in the 12th century and brought with them their own religion, lifestyle, rituals, and language. But they are best known for their medicinal plant knowledge.

The ethnic group’s traditional herbal baths have gained attention across Vietnam and beyond. Thanks to the abundance of medicinal plants and trees, such as balm, fig leaves, tropical dogwood, and Đìa Siêu, the unique ritual of bathing into a tub full of 10 or more rare ingredients have been passed down through the ages.

To make the herbal baths, Red Dzao women (the ‘secret recipe’ for herbal baths are usually passed down to the women in the family) chop, dry, and boil the stems, leaves, and barks for hours. The Đìa Siêu, specifically, is harvested and cured before macerating in alcohol to make a tincture that is then combined into the whole mixture of the herbal bath. Once the solution is ready, the sweet-smelling mixture is poured into a wooden tub. Anyone who dips into it could instantly feel soothed and relaxed, and then the healing happens.

How does Đìa Siêu contribute to our gin as a botanical?

Beyond its traditional healing properties, Đìa Siêu also has distinct aromas and flavors. The botanical’s smokey flavor helps ground the high and middle notes and provides a nice finish that gives our gins length.

As a company invested in community, Sông Cái works closely with local farmers and foragers, including members of the Red Dzao community. Our use of the Đìa Siêu speaks to our respect for the ethnic group’s rich culture and incomparable knowledge of botany.