Recognizing the Shan Tuyet tea village in Thai Nguyen as a traditional craft village.

Leaders of the Thai Nguyen Department of Agriculture and Environment present the decision recognizing Dong Phuc commune as a traditional craft village. (Photo: Tuan Son)

Bang Phuc Shan Tuyet tea is a distinctive and representative product, closely linked to the life, culture, and livelihoods of the local people. The unique natural conditions of high mountains, cool climate, and suitable soil have created a region producing high-quality Shan Tuyet tea.

Besides being a staple crop, Bang Phuc Shan Tuyet tea also holds special historical, cultural, and ecological value.

According to the People's Committee of Dong Phuc commune, there are currently 740 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in the area, distributed across 7 villages. The largest number is in Phieng Phung village with over 400 trees, covering an area of 1.7 hectares.

The ancient tea trees have an average height of about 5.3m; the average trunk diameter is nearly 20cm. Many trees have beautiful, majestic shapes and wide canopies, creating a very unique landscape on the high mountain slopes.

Among the existing ancient tea trees, there are 5 exceptionally large trees with trunk circumferences ranging from 150-200cm, growing naturally. Recently, the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment issued a decision recognizing the cluster of 12 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees here as Vietnamese Heritage Trees.

The cluster of ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees and hundreds of hectares of newly planted area have created sustainable livelihoods for the people. According to the Dong Phuc Shan Tuyet Tea Village Self-Management Team, the total area of Shan Tuyet tea is currently over 316 hectares, concentrated in the villages of Na Bay, Na Hong, Na Pai, and Ban Khieu. A total of 393 households are involved in planting and processing Shan Tuyet tea.

Currently, the commune has many cooperatives involved in the distribution and sale of Shan Tuyet tea products, such as: Hong Ha Cooperative, Bang Phuc Cooperative, Binh An Green Agriculture Cooperative… In addition, there are many businesses processing and exporting Shan Tuyet tea, such as: SACHSTEA Joint Stock Company; Ngoc Thang Agricultural Development and Medicinal Herb Processing Company Limited…

Delegates visit the exhibition booths showcasing processed Shan Tuyet tea products. (Photo: Tuan Son)

The tea industry has created stable jobs for nearly 1,000 workers, accounting for more than 60% of the total workforce in the region, ensuring income, reducing poverty sustainably, and improving people's living standards.

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Trieu Quang Hung commune, the Shan Tuyet tea plant is not only a traditional crop but has also become a valuable heritage and a source of pride for the locality. This is an important foundation for Dong Phuc to develop its specialty crop, build its brand, and gradually expand into a wider market in the future.

At the ceremony, on behalf of the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thai Nguyen province announced and presented the decision recognizing Bang Phuc Shan Tuyet tea village as a traditional craft village.

Representatives of the village's self-governing group also pledged to maintain and develop the traditional craft; raise awareness in safe tea production and environmental protection; and gradually apply science and technology to improve quality, link production, build brands, and bring products to a wider market.

Being recognized as a traditional craft village will help this unique Shan Tuyet tea growing region of Thai Nguyen open up new opportunities to define and enhance the value of its products, affirming its position as one of the "five great famous teas" of Thai Nguyen, and linking it with tourism development in the future.

TUAN SON

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cong-nhan-lang-nghe-che-shan-tuyet-o-thai-nguyen-post950983.html