Giang Côn Đảo · a child of Côn Đảo, family on the island for three generations, many years working in island tourism, founder of Côn Của. Updated 22/10/2026.
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Getting ready to goRead tips on getting there, the best season, costs and itineraries Already in Côn ĐảoStop by the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and get your free Indian almond ice cream codeMany people seeing the words "hạt bàng" (Indian almond) on a bag of candy for the first time wonder: what kind of nut is it, can you eat it? I wrote this article to answer it fully, once and for all.
I grew up on the island; my family has been here for about three generations. At fifteen I left the island to study, later came home to start a business with an ice cream cart, and Indian almonds became the soul of Côn Của. In this article I'll tell you about the tree, the work of chopping, and the candy, so you understand why this treat is precious.
What are Côn Đảo Indian almonds?
Hạt bàng is the kernel deep inside the Indian almond fruit. The tree's scientific name is Terminalia catappa, and it's also called the sea almond tree (bàng biển). In English it's called "sea almond", "tropical almond" or "Indian almond". The word "almond" is there because its kernel is edible, according to the Wikipedia page on this tree.
The Indian almond fruit is a drupe, about 5 to 7cm long, green when young, turning yellow then red when ripe. The outer husk is spongy and light and floats on water, so the fruit drifts far on the waves. Bats also eat the fruit and carry it away. The tree has traveled with people and water to many places, from Africa through Southeast Asia to India, so Wikipedia notes its native range is no longer clear.
Côn Đảo has many Indian almond trees; Pháp Luật newspaper once ran a whole article on the island's Indian almond trees (2014). For islanders, Indian almonds aren't an exotic shop-bought treat but something familiar, tied to early mornings gathering fruit.
From fallen fruit to a handful of kernels: gathering, drying, chopping
Gathering. Ripe Indian almond fruit falls on its own, and locals go and gather it. An article on the condao.com.vn portal (07/03/2025) says people go gathering very early, around 3 or 4 a.m., after the bats have finished eating and before the streets are swept.
Drying. The gathered fruit is dried until the husk is dry. How many days of sun varies by source: condao.com.vn and Pháp Luật newspaper (2014) say about 4-5 days, while Côn Của dries them for 7 to 10 days. I won't say which figure is more correct, because the sun differs each season and each household has its own way. Just remember: the fruit must be truly dry before it can be chopped and the kernel turns out fragrant.
Chopping. This is the most labor-intensive stage. No machine can do it; people sit with a knife splitting each fruit. According to condao.com.vn, you have to use just the right force so the kernel doesn't break. Too hard and the kernel is crushed; too soft and the shell won't split.
Taking out the kernels. Only once it's split do you see the long, slender kernel, tiny compared with the whole fruit. Wikipedia also notes that the kernel is small and hard to extract. Sitting for a whole morning yields just a handful. That's why our family often says: "One kilo of Indian almond kernels is a full day's work chopping fruit one by one". That's not said just for fun.
Islander's tip: good Indian almond kernels are whole, evenly colored, with few broken bits and no shell mixed in. If roasted ones smell of old oil or have an off odor, they've been kept too long; don't buy them.
Are Indian almonds edible, and what do they taste like?
Yes, they're edible. According to Wikipedia, ripe Indian almond kernels can be eaten raw or cooked. On the island, people usually roast them to bring out the aroma.
As for the taste, I'll describe it the Côn Của way: roasted, they're as fragrant as almonds but richer and nuttier. Chew slowly and you'll notice the richness, the aroma growing. They go well with a cup of hot tea.
On nutrition, I'll only go by research. A group of authors in Sabah, Malaysia (published 2022) measured Indian almond kernels at about 22% protein and 49-54% oil. That was a Malaysian sample, not Côn Đảo Indian almonds, so the figures for the island's nuts may differ. I mention it so you know Indian almonds are a rich, oily nut. It's a food, not a medicine, and I don't claim it cures anything.
How islanders eat Indian almonds
According to condao.com.vn, the most familiar treat is mứt hạt bàng (candied Indian almonds) in two traditional flavors:
- Salt-roasted: lightly salty, keeping the nut's natural flavor intact. Great for nibbling with tea.
- Roasted with sugar and ginger: sweetness blended with warm ginger aroma; you can keep eating without tiring of it.
Recently islanders have also come up with many more versions: baked, cheese, green tea, coconut coffee flavors, Indian almond cookies, Indian almond ice cream, Indian almond candy. When you visit the island, stop by the market and taste each flavor.
In our family, roasted Indian almonds are blended into the ice cream at the Côn Của stand, 50.000đ a serving, with a version served inside a young coconut. If you want to take some home, there's candy: three flavors, each with its own kind of sweetness, which I describe in detail just below.
See the three Indian almond candy flavors
Côn Của's three lines of Indian almond candy
All three lines use coconut-milk malt syrup instead of white sugar, no butter, and all have a layer of roasted Indian almonds. Each flavor has its own character:
Waxy coconut roll with Indian almond (Dừa sáp cuộn hạt bàng). 200g bag, about 23 to 25 pieces. Coconut rolled slice by slice, coated in coconut-milk malt syrup and topped with crunchy roasted Indian almond kernels. The candy is ivory white, chewy and coconut-scented, nuttier with every bite.
Banana candy with Indian almond (Kẹo chuối hạt bàng). 250g bag, 18 pieces. Tree-ripened Siamese bananas cooked down until chewy on grilled milk rice paper, topped with dried coconut and roasted Indian almonds. The sweetness comes mainly from the bananas, with crispy rice paper underneath, fun to eat.
Ginger and kumquat candied fruit with Indian almond (Mứt gừng tắc hạt bàng). Chewy dried honey banana, small-root ginger, kumquat, sesame and Indian almonds. A warm spice in the throat, a light kumquat tang, the nuttiness of the kernels. This is the flavor I often suggest to visitors buying gifts for grandparents.
I filmed a few short clips at the stand, including foreign visitors eating the candy, so you can picture it more easily:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Comparison table of the three Indian almond candy flavors
| Flavor | Weight | What it tastes like | Who it suits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waxy coconut roll with Indian almond | 200g, 23 to 25 pieces | Rich, chewy, coconutty | Coconut lovers, children, sharing around the office | 95.000đ |
| Banana candy with Indian almond | 250g, 18 pieces | Gently sweet from bananas, with crispy rice paper | People who don't eat much sugar, family snacking | 95.000đ |
| Ginger and kumquat candied fruit with Indian almond | See packaging | Warm ginger spice, light kumquat tang | Grandparents, ginger lovers, windy days | 95.000đ |
Listed prices as of 22/10/2026, may change with the season. If it's your first time and you can't decide, get the combo with all 3 flavors, taste them all and find out which flavor you love. If you're not happy with the product, Côn Của will exchange it or give you a refund.
Order Indian almond candy, delivered nationwide
Storing Indian almond candy
The candy contains coconut, banana and oily nuts, so heat and humidity are its biggest enemies. Remember these points:
- Keep in a dry, cool, airy place, out of direct sunlight.
- Don't leave it in a car trunk or near the stove. In heat and humidity, coconut candy softens and gets sticky.
- Once the bag is opened, seal it again or put it in a lidded container.
- Check the best-before date on each bag's packaging; it may differ from batch to batch.
Islander's tip: when buying gifts, give each household a whole bag; don't open and divide them up. In an unopened bag the nuts stay crunchy longer, and the gift looks neat to the recipient too.
Where to buy Indian almond candy
On the island: stop by the "Tiệm nước Sầm Sâm · Côn Của" stand at the Côn Đảo Night Market gate, Phạm Văn Đồng Street, open from 7:00 to 23:00. Taste each flavor, have a cup of Indian almond ice cream, and we'll wrap up whichever flavor you like. If you're visiting the night market too, read what to eat at the Côn Đảo night market.
Back on the mainland: order on the Côn Của website, delivered nationwide. Choose your flavors, add to cart, fill in your address and you're done. For large orders as Tết gifts or company gifts, chat with Giang, and Giang will suggest options to fit your budget.
Islander's tip: if you're on the island for a few days, buy candy early, tasting at the cart before deciding. Don't leave it until the last minute on the way to the airport; in a rush it's easy to pick the wrong flavor.
To find out what else is worth taking home, read Côn Đảo specialties to buy as gifts. I've also filmed a few clips about gift shopping:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Frequently asked questions
Are Indian almonds edible?
Yes. Ripe Indian almond kernels can be eaten raw or cooked, and Côn Đảo people have eaten them for a long time. The hard part is that the kernel is small and sits inside a hard shell, so each fruit has to be chopped open by hand to get it out.
Back on the mainland, where can I buy Indian almond candy?
Order right on the Côn Của website, delivered nationwide. The three Indian almond candy flavors are one price of 95.000đ a bag, per listed prices as of 22/10/2026. If you're still on the island, stop by the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate, taste and buy.
How long does Indian almond candy keep?
Check the best-before date printed on each bag's packaging. Keep in a dry place out of the sun; once opened, seal it again and eat it soon while it's still fragrant and crunchy.
Can people with nut allergies eat Indian almond candy?
I'm not a doctor, so I can't say for sure. If you or the gift recipient have a history of nut allergies, ask a doctor before trying it. Depending on the flavor, Indian almond candy also contains coconut, banana, sesame, ginger and kumquat; check the ingredients on the packaging.
- Wikipedia, "Terminalia catappa": en.wikipedia.org (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Côn Đảo information portal, "Các món ăn ngon từ hạt bàng Côn Đảo" (Delicious dishes made from Côn Đảo Indian almonds), 07/03/2025: condao.com.vn (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Pháp Luật Việt Nam newspaper, "Lạ lùng bàng Côn Đảo" (The curious Indian almond of Côn Đảo), 04/02/2014: baophapluat.vn (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Akanda et al., "Characterization and nutritional content of Terminalia catappa kernel and its oil from Sabah, Malaysia", Applied Food Research, 2022: eprints.ums.edu.my (abstract viewed 22/10/2026).
- Côn Của sales page, listed prices, specifications and how the candy is made: dacsan.cuangoncondao.com (accessed 22/10/2026). Prices may change.
Coming to the island? Message me for your ice cream code
If you're coming to Côn Đảo soon, leave me your contact. I'll send an ice cream code via Zalo or Messenger; show it at the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and the cup of Indian almond ice cream is on me. While you're at it, ask me about itineraries, places to stay or the turtle release tour, and I'll point you in the right direction; just message naturally like a friend.
If you like the taste of Indian almond, you can take candy home as gifts.