Rice wine. It sounds simple, but it’s more than just another alcoholic beverage. It’s a bridge to Hmong history. “Drinking is very prevalent in Hmong culture when it comes to celebrations,” See Xiong, a Minneapolis-based Hmong journalist and marketing specialist, says. “It’s prominent in Hmong wedding traditions. It’s a way of welcoming guests and showing … [ Read more]
Growing Hope: The HAFA Farm gives Hmong Minnesotans a long-term stake in agriculture
August 29, 2019 by
In Laos, as soon as the first rain falls in April, farmers rush to sow their seeds in the ground. The terrain is sometimes rocky and very hilly for these farmers who have worked the land for hundreds of years, growing crops to feed their families. On a 155-acre plot of land in Hastings, Minnesota, … [ Read more]
Vine Park is now the first majority Hmong-owned brewery
June 28, 2018 by
Touyer Moua grew up in the Twin Cities hearing from the elders in the Hmong community about the fermenting traditions they left behind. “Back in our old country, Laos, our elders… they would brew their own rice wine,” Moua began explaining. “From that perspective, there is history as far as making your own alcoholic drink. … [ Read more]
