Discussing the unique characteristics of Vietnamese tea.

On the morning of December 28th, at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, a talk show titled "The Journey to Discover Tea" was held, discussing the unique aspects of Vietnamese tea and launching the book "Searching for Tea" by writer and artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan . The program featured two guest speakers: Associate Professor and Doctor of Food Technology Nguyen Duy Thinh and Thuy Tien, a young tea enthusiast from Lam Dong , along with a large audience of readers and tea ceremony enthusiasts.

Writer and artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan shares his journey in searching for tea.

Young tea enthusiasts at Thuy Tien – guests at the book launch and discussion event for "Finding Tea".

According to artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan: “Vietnam is known as the cradle of tea cultivation. We are proud of some of the world's oldest tea forests and have preserved the unique custom of drinking fresh tea for thousands of years. Tea plants in each region reflect the climate and soil characteristics, thus forming unique tea-drinking customs and traditions. Currently, our country has 34 tea-growing and processing regions, ranking 5th in the world in tea exports, and stories about tea are always a topic of great interest to many people.”

The latest work, "Searching for Tea" (recently published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House), by artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, is the result of years of research, exploration, and experience with tea in many countries. It compiles fascinating stories about Vietnamese and world tea from new perspectives. In his journey to rediscover tea, artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan gathers the distinctive features that have made Vietnamese tea famous from the past to the present. Along with that are stories about famous teas and tea-drinking customs in many countries that not everyone has the opportunity to experience firsthand.

The work "Searching for Tea" has just been released to readers.

Why is there a saying, "Tea for three, wine for four"?

Regarding the origins of Vietnamese tea, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh stated: "The tea plant originated in Vietnam. There is much evidence to suggest that tea has been present in our country since ancient times – more than 600 years ago. In fact, Vietnamese people enjoyed drinking tea even before the Chinese, and only later the Japanese, but the Japanese elevated it to the level of a tea ceremony, which is truly remarkable."

"And why is it called tea? In my opinion, anything that's brewed into a drink and then the grounds are discarded is called tea. Depending on the place, it can be called drinking tea or simply 'tea,' but why do we say 'drinking green tea,' and not 'drinking green tea'? That's also a very unique aspect of the language."

Scenes from a tea gathering and discussion.

Readers posed questions to the guests and the author – artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan.

Thuy Tien, a guest at the exchange event, shared that she has loved tea since childhood and enjoyed drinking it with her parents. Now that she's grown up, her passion for Vietnamese tea is ingrained in her. “There are days when I wake up at 4:30 in the morning in a house in the forest to brew tea, feeling like I’ve become a billionaire of time and suddenly noticing the silence around me. I no longer hear the hustle and bustle of life (and even in my head) calling out to me. Those moments of quiet can only be experienced when enjoying tea alone or with loved ones,” Thuy Tien confided.

Artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan further shared: “Tea brings us peace of mind, a refreshed spirit, and cleanses impurities from the body. It has three effects: it helps those meditating overnight stay awake, aids digestion, keeps the mind clear, and helps people control and restrain their desires.”

As for why it's called "Tea for three, Wine for four," author Nguyen Ngoc Tuan explains: "Three or four represents the number of people for a gathering. Three cups of tea is just right, the space isn't too noisy, enough to enjoy the tea ceremony. Any debate, no matter what, has someone in the middle to act as a referee. Four people drinking wine is an even number; if someone gets upset after drinking too much, three people can force a drink on one person, immediately revealing the unfairness, and the matter will end quickly. When the balance is even, each side is equally matched, making the drinking session even more enjoyable..."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dam-luan-ve-nhung-doc-dao-cua-tra-viet-185241228122942147.htm