I remember the taste of my dad's young guava bud tea.

Everyone's childhood included climbing guava trees to pick guavas. As we grew older, the scent of guavas from those years became a lingering memory in our childhood recollections. It was because of this fascination with the fragrance of this humble tree that my father made guava bud tea for the whole family to enjoy.

This type of tea is made very simply from ingredients readily available in the garden. Taking advantage of the early morning mist, my father picks about 10 to 15 guava buds and young leaves, washes them clean, and dries them in the yard for about 3 to 5 sunny days. When ready to use, he puts the tea leaves into a teapot, adds a little boiling water, and has a delicious pot of tea.

The brewed tea has a pale yellow color, and the aroma of guava wafts up, lingering on the nose as if trying to hold onto a little bit of childhood nostalgia. The fragrance is subtle, carried on the hot steam, a comforting inhale for those far from home, evoking feelings of longing and nostalgia. This aroma helps one feel calmer and more peaceful after the storms and tribulations of life. Slow down to find inner peace!

The "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, closed for entries at 11 PM on May 10th.

Similar to traditional teas, my father's young guava bud tea has a slightly bitter taste that lingers on the tongue, then gradually fades, giving way to a sweet aftertaste. All of this is perceived with a sense of comfort and coolness, a feeling of carefree serenity.

The guava tree in our garden is lush and green all year round. We can pick guava buds and leaves to make tea whenever we want. Dad carefully packages and divides the tea into equal portions for his children to take with them when they travel far away. These packets of young guava bud tea, made by Dad, are not only good for our health, but also carry the fragrant scent of memories, mixed with the taste of Dad's kind and generous heart. A heart full of love that cannot be expressed in words...

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2025, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).