My grandfather suffered from glaucoma, and during his time in the war he did not receive proper treatment, so he became blind when he was just over 40. Since he lost his sight, he became irritable, grumpy, and grumpy. Only when he drank tea did he feel better, and his face became gentle and relaxed.
My father and uncle drink morning tea.
Every morning he woke up early, crept down to the kitchen to boil water. He fumbled and felt for every item, from the lighter, coconut leaf bag, dry firewood, stove grate, kettle to the stove, and carefully lit the stove. Several times the fire scorched the wall, and luckily someone saw it and prevented a fire, but he still could not give up tea. A pot of tea in the morning was probably the only joy in his old age.
Tea wasn’t expensive back then, but we were short of money so it took a long time to buy a 100g pack. I remember it was the red number 8 three crab tea brand. It was a big leaf astringent tea scented with jasmine.
Whenever he was given tea, he was very happy. He fumbled to open the tea and divided it into small bundles wrapped in calendar papers. He divided the tiny tea bags into dozens of pots. He put half of them in guigoz cans to brew for daily drinking, the rest he put under the bronze incense burners, and behind the stained glass panels. That was for him to save for "difficult times" or when he had guests, so he would always have tea to offer.
Serving tea to guests seems to have become a tradition of Vietnamese people since ancient times. The conversations between neighbors and old friends who have not met for a long time are formed over cups of tea. My grandfather always kept small packets of tea that he did not dare to drink many times waiting for his guests to come visit him.
Following in the footsteps of my grandfather, my father is now also addicted to tea. From Long Phung tea, Bao Loc pineapple ginseng tea or later Tan Cuong tea, ancient Shan Tuyet tea. Every time I have a chance to go on a business trip to the tea region, I try to find and buy some. The only regret is that my grandfather is no longer here.
(Entry to the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 2nd time, 2024 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).
Graphics: CHI PHAN
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