Discover the process of making the most expensive lotus tea in Hanoi

The most expensive lotus tea brewing process in Hanoi: The drink "quintessence of heaven and earth".

Lotus tea perfuming craft in Quang An (Tay Ho district, Hanoi ) has been honored as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is no coincidence that Bach Diep lotus tea in West Lake is known as the number one tea with a selling price of up to tens of millions of VND/kg. To make one kilogram, Hanoi artisans need more than 1,000 lotus flowers and must go through 7 times of perfuming with a very elaborate and meticulous process.

Every time lotus flowers bloom by West Lake, Hanoian tea connoisseurs look forward to the season of brewing lotus tea – an elegant, refined drink known as the “quintessence of heaven and earth”.

Fragrant lotus tea is a profession that requires meticulousness, delicacy and elegance. Fragrant West Lake lotus tea seems simple, but to have tea flowers imbued with lotus scent while still retaining the pure tea flavor requires meticulousness and delicacy. It is this elaborateness that has turned this tea into one of the most expensive and precious gifts of Hanoi.

1 kg of premium West Lake lotus tea on the market costs from 7-10 million VND/kg, or even more depending on the type. "To make 1 kg of lotus tea, the artisan needs 1,000-1,200 lotus flowers. All stages of lotus tea perfuming are done completely by hand. To produce this special tea, it requires 7 times of lotus rice brewing and drying. Each layer of tea is followed by a thin layer of lotus rice," said Ms. Chau Giang, a long-time lotus tea perfumer in West Lake.

Instant lotus tea is quite easy to make. The lotus flowers, right after being cut from the lake or bought early in the morning, need to be infused with tea to take advantage of the time when the lotus scent is still the strongest. After the lotus scent is finished, put the flowers in vases or basins of water and leave them overnight. The next day, when the lotus scent is fragrant in the tea, you can start using it. The remaining lotus flowers can be preserved by putting them in a vacuum bag in the freezer for later use.

Instant tea steeped in lotus flowers costs around 30,000 to 50,000 VND/flower. This is also considered the most expensive tea, only for the rich.

West Lake lotus tea has long been a famous gift of Hanoians. Lotus tea is considered the quintessential drink of heaven and earth, representing the elegance of Hanoians, especially Quang An lotus tea.

Referee - Tienphong.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/kham-pha-quy-trinh-uop-tra-sen-dat-do-nhat-ha-thanh-post1751529.tpo