Unique ceremony honoring the ancestral tea tree of Suoi Giang.

Centuries ago, the Hmong people first set foot on Suoi Giang (Van Chan commune, Lao Cai province), establishing villages amidst the mist-shrouded mountains. These villages, hidden in the fog, blend with the sounds of the Hmong flute and the winds of the vast forest, creating a beauty that is both poetic and majestic.

Reenacting the ceremony honoring the ancestral tea tree of the H'Mông people of Suối Giàng.

Closely intertwined with community life are the rare, ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, resiliently thriving against the harsh cold of the high mountains.

The cluster of 400 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in Suoi Giang commune grows naturally at an altitude of 1,300 to 1,800 meters above sea level, surrounded by mist year-round, with ages ranging from 100 to 300 years. This cluster has been recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for Nature and Environment Protection, and scientists have identified this area as one of the places with the world's "ancestral" tea trees.

Shan Tuyet tea plants thrive in the local climate, soil, and water sources, and the local people never need to fertilize or spray pesticides. Therefore, this ancient tea is highly sought after in the market because, in addition to its excellent quality, Shan tea is also absolutely clean. Suoi Giang has over 500 hectares of Shan tea, including a cluster of 400 Shan tea trees over 100 years old that have been recognized as Vietnamese heritage trees. The annual production of fresh tea buds reaches 600 tons. In 2013, Suoi Giang tea products were granted exclusive trademark certification by the Intellectual Property Office.

The ancient Shan Tuyet tea growing area of ​​Suoi Giang has been certified as a natural organic tea growing area and granted geographical indication. The tea plants have been numbered and labeled with QR codes for traceability of the growing region. Tuyet Son Tra tea products have achieved OCOP 4-star standards... selling prices range from 400,000 VND/kg to 4,000,000 VND/kg of finished product. Currently, two products, Shan Tuyet Black Tea and Shan Tuyet Leaf Tea, meet European standards and are exported to the UK and Japan markets.

Every year, Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea is harvested in three seasons: spring, summer, and the final harvest around August-September of the lunar calendar. Suoi Giang tea is harvested and processed by roasting in a hot cast-iron pan, using the experience and skillful hands of the H'Mong people. To harvest the young tea buds, they have to climb the high branches of ancient tea trees to select the freshest buds to bring back for roasting and drying.

Like other ethnic groups in the Vietnamese community, folk beliefs play an important role in the spiritual life of the Hmong people. With the belief that all things have souls, they often worship large stones and ancient trees. This is to show their respect and gratitude to heaven and earth, and to the deities who have blessed them with favorable weather and bountiful tea harvests throughout the year.

Every year, according to tradition, the H'Mông people of Suối Giàng hold a ceremony to worship the ancestral tea tree. This year, the master of ceremonies is the village elder and artisan Giàng A Đằng. He is a respected and virtuous senior citizen in the village, knowledgeable about the customs and traditions of the H'Mông people.

The prayer was recited: "O heaven and earth, spirits! Today, the H'Mông people of Suối Giàng offer this small gift to heaven and earth, spirits, and the tea god, expressing our sincere devotion: We pray that the gods of heaven, earth, and tea will protect and shelter all things, that there will be favorable weather, that the lives of the people will be prosperous and happy, and that our homeland and country will be peaceful and prosperous."

Previously, the H'Mông people only focused on farming, growing corn and rice, and hunting. Thanks to the precious tea plant, the people have gained a significant source of income, employment, eradicated hunger, reduced poverty, and seen significant progress in their lives. Comrade Nguyen Huu Luc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Chan commune, stated that participating in the "Ceremony to Honor the Ancestral Tea Plant" is a beautiful aspect of the H'Mông people's religious culture in Suoi Giang. This folk belief is expressed through simple, unpretentious prayers, containing a strong aspiration for progress, an aspiration that forever flows with life force, nourishing the tea plants, causing the tea forest to sprout, flourish, and bring prosperity and happiness.

Text and photos: THANH SON

Source: https://nhandan.vn/doc-dao-le-cung-ton-vinh-cay-che-to-suoi-giang-post926649.html