Flower tea - The fragrance of sunshine, the taste of the heart.

On a chilly early winter day, we arrived at the tea-growing region of Phu Lac commune and were greeted by the pristine, delicate white blossoms of the tea plants, gently swaying in the breeze. These flowers bloom only once a year, in November and December, when the sun is at its peak, the wind is dry enough, and tea growers begin "harvesting the sunshine" with their skillful hands.

Ms. Dao Thi Thuc (standing in the middle) has dedicated her heart and soul to building the famous Nhat Thuc tea brand with its delicious flavor. Photo: Provided

Flower tea - a special product

Within those tiny tea blossoms lies the essence of the earth and sky, the hard work, and the love of the diligent farmers who have contributed to preserving the finest Thai tea. Among them, we cannot fail to mention the contribution of Ms. Dao Thi Thuc, Director of Nhat Thuc Tea Cooperative, who has devoted her heart and soul to creating a special product - flower tea, made from the most carefully selected tea blossoms.

Unlike other flowers, tea flowers bloom only once a year, on high hills with plenty of sunshine, wind, and minimal frost. Not every tea plantation can produce flowers for tea, because the flowers must be "chosen" in a location with a clean climate and a pure, healthy tea variety.

Each flower is picked at the perfect stage of bloom, when its petals are still slightly curved and its fragrance is pure. The tea maker must "get it right"—meaning they must dry the flowers by hand in a cast-iron pan, a process that demands experience, finesse, and a dedication passed down through generations. Thanks to this, the flowers retain their natural flavor, without burning or losing their characteristic ivory-yellow color.

Ms. Dao Thi Thuc skillfully combined tea flowers with stevia – a safe, natural herb especially suitable for people with diabetes – making tea flower tea a sophisticated and healthy beverage.

Sitting in her small room, fragrant with the scent of tea, Ms. Thuc gently brewed a fresh pot of tea. As the hot water poured in, the flowers gradually bloomed, releasing a delicate fragrance that told the story of diligent farmers, of the sun, the wind, and the fertile land. The first taste of the tea touched her lips, soft and refreshing, then gradually spread, leaving a sweet aftertaste in her throat.

After harvesting, the tea flowers are roasted until golden brown, then packaged in boxes, making them a meaningful gift for family and friends.

“Flower tea is the culmination of sunshine, wind, and the soul of the tea maker. Each flower is like a mark of the sunny season, of life and faith,” Ms. Thuc began her story.

After sipping her tea, she continued: "Besides being a visually appealing beverage, camellia flower tea offers many health benefits, especially for women. Camellia flowers contain high levels of polyphenols and catechins, which have strong antioxidant properties, helping to slow down skin aging, reduce wrinkles, and increase elasticity. The refreshing aroma of the flowers also helps reduce stress, improve sleep, and provide a relaxing and pleasant feeling."

In particular, when combined with stevia, flower tea can help detoxify the body, support digestion, and stabilize blood sugar. Many long-term users notice brighter skin, a lighter feeling in their bodies, and a more refreshed spirit. It can be said that each flower tea is a "natural elixir"—a gift from nature for human health and beauty.

Reviving the essence of tea culture.

Ms. Dao Thi Thuc has dedicated much effort to building the Nhat Thuc tea brand, earning the trust of consumers both within and outside the province. With the cooperative's tea plantations covering over 15 hectares, including 7 hectares of organic tea and the remainder meeting VietGAP standards, along with the participation of over 100 households from neighboring communes supplying safe raw materials, the Nhat Thuc Cooperative has created a closed production chain, ensuring quality and clear traceability.

The cooperative absolutely does not purchase fresh tea leaves from outside its affiliated region, a strict principle aimed at maintaining its reputation and brand prestige. As a result, the cooperative's annual revenue exceeds 3 billion VND, providing regular employment for more than 10 workers with an average income of 8 million VND per person per month.

The finished floral tea is packaged in exquisitely designed, eye-catching boxes, priced from 150,000 to 200,000 VND per box. It's not just a beverage, but also a cultural gift, embodying the spirit and essence of Thai Nguyen's countryside, to be given to friends across the country.

Not only focusing on floral teas, Nhat Thuc Cooperative continuously innovates and creates many unique products such as Thuc Tam Tea, Thuc Dinh Tea, Dinh Tam Tea, Lotus Tea, Tea Extract, etc., all aiming for purity, safety, and health benefits for consumers.

The green tea flowers are in full bloom.

Ms. Thuc said: "As society develops, consumers not only want to drink delicious tea but also want to drink tea for health and beauty. Therefore, we are focusing on researching medicinal teas that have effects such as nourishing the liver, improving eyesight, beautifying the skin, supporting sleep, and can even be used as body care products."

The project she's currently developing is tea extract – a product that can be mixed with water for bathing, helping to boost immunity and fight allergies and rashes. "I want each drop of tea to not only be enjoyed by the taste buds, but also to provide comprehensive care for the body," she said with a gentle smile.

Ms. Dao Thi Thuc's journey is not just a story of agricultural entrepreneurship, but also a journey of preserving and renewing the essence of Thai Nguyen tea culture. From the tiny flowers blooming on the high hills, she has carefully nurtured every drop of sunshine and every scent to bring the "fragrance of Thai Nguyen tea" far beyond the village boundaries to friends both domestically and internationally.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202511/che-hoa-huong-cua-nang-vi-cua-tam-a376970/