On the mountain slopes of Ta Xua, ancient tea trees with gnarled trunks covered in green moss are bearing tender tea buds, imbued with the dew and wind of the vast forest, giving off a very distinctive flavor. More than just a familiar beverage for the highlanders, Shan Tuyet tea is now becoming a crop providing a stable livelihood, gradually transforming the lives of many households in Ta Xua.
Shan Tuyet tea plants have been rooted in the Ta Xua highlands for a very long time, but in the past, people mainly harvested the tea for personal consumption or sold the fresh buds to traders, so its value was not high. In recent years, as the unique flavor of Ta Xua tea has become more widely known, people have begun to change their methods. From cultivation and processing to packaging, branding, and marketing, more attention has been paid to every aspect.
The family of Mr. Lu A Chau, in Chung Trinh village, Ta Xua commune, is one of the households that has been involved with Shan Tuyet tea cultivation for many years. With 7 hectares of tea plantations, yielding an average of 30-50 kg of dried tea per hectare per year, his family earns nearly 300 million VND annually from selling tea.
Sharing about the value that tea cultivation brings, Mr. Lu A Chau said: "In the past, growing corn was hard work and not enough to eat. Since tea prices have increased, tourists and traders have come to visit and buy more tea, so my family has a stable source of income."
Currently, Ta Xua commune has approximately 400 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea, including more than 200 ancient tea trees hundreds of years old that have been recognized as Vietnamese Heritage Trees by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment. The commune's total dried tea production reaches 1.2-1.5 tons per year, with prices ranging from 300,000 to 1,500,000 VND/kg. Notably, some ancient tea trees even sell for over 5,000,000 VND/kg.
To enhance the value of Shan Tuyet tea, in recent years, many cooperatives and businesses have partnered with local people to develop raw material areas, providing guidance on cultivation, harvesting, and processing of tea organically. From small-scale production, many households have participated in these collaborative models, gradually changing their production mindset and increasing the value of their products.
To elevate the Ta Xua tea brand, in 2022, Tay Bac Tea and Specialty Products Co., Ltd. (Tafood) built a complex for producing and trading Ta Xua specialty tea combined with a tea tourism experience model. Located amidst the misty mountains of Ta Xua, the complex includes areas for production, processing, packaging, and product display, along with a tea tasting and accommodation area. In addition to investing in modern machinery, the company also combines traditional processing techniques of the local people to create tea varieties with the unique flavors of the Northwest mountains.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham, Director of Tay Bac Tea and Specialty Company Limited, said: "To help people increase their income and spread the fragrance of Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea far and wide, we have partnered with 250 households to jointly purchase and cultivate 250 hectares of tea. In addition, the company has created jobs for 20 permanent and 25 seasonal workers with salaries ranging from 6 to 20 million VND per person per month."
From the ancient tea buds growing on the mountainside, many tea products, such as Thien Green Tea and May Green Tea, have achieved OCOP 4-star certification and have been honored in numerous international tea competitions. In particular, Ta Xua's fermented and pressed Shan tea is currently becoming one of Vietnam's specialty teas.
Shan Tuyet tea trees are also opening up opportunities for experiential tourism development in the Ta Xua highlands. Visitors come here not only to chase clouds but also to see ancient tea trees hundreds of years old, experience tea picking and processing, and enjoy a fragrant cup of tea.
Mr. Pham Van Phuong, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "This is my first time visiting Ta Xua, and I fully appreciate the impressive beauty of this land full of wind, clouds, and mountains, and especially the Shan Tuyet tea with its unique flavor. These are memorable experiences, and I have chosen to buy Shan Tuyet tea as gifts for my relatives and friends."
Amidst the swirling sea of clouds in the high mountains of Northwest Vietnam, ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees silently sprout new leaves and buds. In the fragrant tea aroma wafting through the cool air, one can sense not only the essence of nature but also the hope for a life gradually changing in the high mountain region of Ta Xua.
Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/ngat-huong-che-ta-xua-3ooV2TJvR.html
Comment (0)