Indulge in Thai tea

In Thai Nguyen, we traveled from Dong Hy to Dai Tu, then turned towards Phu Binh, Song Cong… But the most captivating experience was undoubtedly our field trip to Tan Cuong – a region that contributed to the creation of the finest tea.

The tea hills of Tan Cuong in the morning mist captivate tourists.

Thai Nguyen is the land of tea. Everywhere you look, you see tea plants, stretching endlessly in rows; sometimes curving like the flat plains of low, gently sloping hills. Tea plants have been present in Thai Nguyen in general, and in Tan Cuong in particular, since the early 20th century, thanks to the initiative of a high-ranking official. At that time, he and the local people brought tea seedlings from Phu Tho to cultivate, with the aim of alleviating poverty.

Originating in Tan Cang, tea cultivation has increasingly solidified its position in Thai Nguyen province, expanding to areas such as Trai Cai, La Bang, and Phu Luong… Today, the total tea cultivation area in the province exceeds 22,500 hectares, generating approximately 1 billion USD in revenue annually. Tea cultivation is becoming a means of poverty alleviation and wealth creation for ethnic minority communities in Thai Nguyen province.

Speaking specifically about tea, Thai Nguyen tea holds such a prominent position. The answer is simple: the tea hills here, nestled against the Tam Dao mountain range, receive the full force of the early morning sun and the afternoon sun's radiation, absorbing the essence and spirit of the land. The soil, primarily ferralite, is irrigated by the Cong River, Cau River, and Nui Coc Lake; combined with the long-standing cultivation and processing experience of the local people, this contributes to the captivating and endearing saying: "Thai tea, Tuyen Quang girls."

The tea plantations of Tan Cuong, with their bitter and sweet flavors.

When we visited the Hao Dat Tea Cooperative in Tan Cuong commune, walking amidst the vast tea plantations, we were immediately captivated by the intoxicating aroma. The scent of tea in Tan Cuong carries the fresh morning sunshine, the gentle mist descending from the Tam Dao mountain range, the salty, astringent smell of hard work under the sun and rain, the pale brown color from the tea being stirred evenly over a fire, and the rich, sweet aftertaste of a refined and skillful brewing method. The art of tea, or the tea ceremony, also begins from one of these elements.

The people of Xinjiang process tea using traditional, time-honored methods. We observed the nimble hands of the mountain women as they picked the tea leaves—a quick, calculated, skillful, and experienced technique passed down through generations. As the morning sun shone brightly, the tea buds were carefully and tenderly harvested. Through elaborate processing steps, they transformed into a luxurious beverage, available in many discerning markets.

And it wasn't just us; countless groups of visitors to the Tan Cuong tea region couldn't stop exclaiming how beautiful and captivating it was! In response to these expressions, the tea plantations in Tan Cuong, Trai Cai, La Bang, and Phu Luong have become popular check-in spots for tourists ; and tea has been a favorite drink for tea connoisseurs for generations.

People in Xinjiang harvest tea using traditional methods.

As the birthplace of tea, Tan Cuong naturally also serves as the starting point for the Spring Tea Festival, originating from Guoc village. We haven't had the chance to attend this unique festival, but what the mountain girls recounted during our field trip was incredibly captivating. Just imagine a festival held annually at the beginning of spring, with activities such as tea-making competitions for guests, combined with accompanying cultural and artistic activities like poetry recitation, cockfighting, chess matches, and martial arts demonstrations…

Since the first International Tea Festival was held in Thai Nguyen in 2011, the annual tea festival has been named "Spring Tea Flavors - Tan Cuong Specialty Tea Region" and is scheduled to be held on the 11th day of the first lunar month. The festival features many unique activities, such as tea brewing demonstrations and tea serving. Gradually, this cultural activity has spread to other tea-growing regions in the province, becoming a distinctive cultural feature of Thai Nguyen province.

The highlight of the festival is the tea-making and tea-serving demonstration. It must be said that the process is incredibly meticulous, elaborate, and sophisticated. It's not just a beverage, but also a cultural product of the midland region, a unique cultural characteristic that cannot be easily imitated or replicated. In this culturally rich event, the story of the "Cánh Hạc" tea product from the tea-growing and processing facility of Mr. Đội Năm, which won first prize at the Hanoi Exhibition in 1935, came to mind… further enriching the tradition and skills of tea cultivation and processing in Thái Nguyên.

The fascination with Thai tea begins with such refined activities. It suddenly dawned on me that your province is so skillful and systematic in developing and elevating its tourism products.

Thai Nguyen tea products are increasingly asserting their position in demanding markets.

The way Thai Nguyen tea products are promoted and developed is also very different. Almost every restaurant, hotel, and entertainment area has booths displaying the products. The designs and quality are also very attractive, diverse, and suitable for customers' budgets.

In its strategy to promote tea cultivation and tea products, Thai Nguyen has forged its own path to elevate its status as the "Number One Famous Tea." The people of Thai Nguyen are hospitable and warm-hearted. In conversations with visitors from all over, they pour all their pride, passion, and aspirations into talking about tea. And we encountered that passion in the inviting words of the female officer from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Investment and Tourism Promotion Center, and in the meticulous introduction and the cherished aspirations of the many mountain women in the Hao Dat tea-growing region of Tan Cuong commune that we met.

Along with the collective trademark "Thai Nguyen Tea" and the geographical indication "Tan Cuong", many tea products from specialty tea-growing regions such as La Bang, Dai Tu, Trai Cai, Vo Tranh, Tuc Tranh, Pho Yen... have been granted collective trademark protection by the Intellectual Property Office; "Phu Luong Tea" and "Vo Nhai Tea" have been granted certification trademarks. Currently, 186 organizations and individuals producing tea have been granted the right to use the collective trademark "Thai Nguyen Tea"; 57 organizations and individuals have been granted intellectual property rights for the geographical indication "Tan Cuong"...

Understanding more about tea, especially Thai Nguyen tea, makes us appreciate and love the people and the soil of this region even more. Within the bitter and sweet flavors of the tea lies a yearning to elevate the tea plant and the tea product. This aspiration is not just shared by the residents of the midland region, but by the entire province of Thai Nguyen; just as the province did in the early days of building the largest iron and steel mill in the North in the 1960s.

In any endeavor, with the right direction, coupled with dedication, patience, and careful consideration, success is not far off. The same can be said for tea, and the tea products of Thai Nguyen.

An invitation from Thai Nguyen...

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/dam-say-che-thai-1742977973998.htm