Behind the phrase 'tea land'

Lush green tea plantations in La Bang commune. Photo: Ngoc Hai

loose leaf tea, loose leaf tea

"What does 'loose leaf tea' mean? What does 'tea land' mean?" I asked curiously.

- When it's still a bud on the plant, it's called tea. When it's dried, it's called tea. Throughout the Red River Delta, people commonly drink green tea, brewed from freshly picked leaves from the gardens. When dried tea was brought from the upstream regions and brewed, it was called "upstream tea," later shortened to just "upstream." Dozens of places in the country grow tea, but when someone calls it "tea land," everyone understands it to be Thai Nguyen . Formed through consumption and passed down through generations, the two words "tea land" have become so precious!

Jeju Island in South Korea, covering approximately 250 square kilometers, is a provincial-level administrative unit. It's home to the Osulloc green tea paradise of the Amorepacific group. Before 1979, no one cultivated tea on Jeju Island. Now, it's a specialty, a well-known brand with widespread recognition. We visited what we called a farm, but in reality, it's a hilly area with thousands of hectares of tea plantations lining both sides of the highway. The tea is grown and harvested using machinery, ensuring extremely high standards and precision. The neatly arranged rows of tea plants, freshly harvested by machines, leave behind a smooth, dark green, sharp-edged carpet of tea leaves stretching endlessly into the distance. The unharvested rows are a plum-yellow color, with buds sprouting profusely.

The entire tea-growing region here resembles a vast, sprawling meadow, with tea furrows seemingly drawn with a ruler in the brilliant golden sunlight. The tea plantations here have few trees; the open spaces and the edges of the roads used by motor vehicles are lined with wind and solar power poles.

Experts and guides here explain that: The tea here is not sprayed with pesticides or growth stimulants, so there are no trees planted (which are hiding places for pests and diseases). Furthermore, cultivation is mechanized, so there is no need for shade for the harvesting workers... The farm has an area of several hectares where tourists can experience tea picking, manual processing, and traditional packaging for photos and videos... Of course, the tea processing area is adjacent and ensures absolute industrial hygiene. However, brewed green tea is just one of hundreds of food, beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medicinal products made from green tea. Each year, this place welcomes over 12 million visitors; although no entrance fee is sold, the profits from selling products and services on-site generate enormous revenue.

The founder of Amore Pacific Cosmetics Group imported some tea seeds from Thai Nguyen and Lam Dong provinces in Vietnam and from Sri Lanka to plant on the island with the aim of extracting certain active ingredients for cosmetics. Then, things took an unexpected turn. Having already become the world's third-largest producer of green tea, Amore Pacific Cosmetics Group didn't hesitate to establish the world-class Osulloc Tea Museum, expanding from tea culture to wholesale and retail sales. Guests can enjoy a relaxing stay, cultivate patience by pre-registering for tea ceremony practice, and even try their hand at brewing tea using famous Hagi ceramic teapots and cups. However, Jeju has never been known as a "tea land."

The mark of the 'tea land'

Tea plantations are located deep at the foot of the mountains in An Khanh commune. Photo: D.T.

Thai Nguyen is famous for its geographical indication 'tea land' thanks to human efforts and unique natural conditions. Understanding Thai Nguyen's climate is key to explaining why it has become 'tea land'. This includes examining characteristic climatic factors and their impact on agriculture, particularly the reputation of tea and tea products.

First, let's understand the microclimate of the eastern slopes of the Tam Dao mountain range. The Tam Dao mountain range is approximately 100km long, with peaks reaching nearly 1,500m, located in the western part of the province. The old-growth forests retain water resources, and eight major streams flow down from the mountains, becoming tributaries of the Cong River and creating large lakes: Nui Coc Lake, Doan Uy Lake, Vai Cay Lake, Ghenh Che Lake, etc. These act as an effective shield, partially blocking the hot, dry southwest monsoon winds, while also preventing moisture from the sea, rain, and the microclimate of the eastern slopes of Tam Dao. According to the Koppen-Geiger climate classification system, Thai Nguyen's climate is classified as a humid subtropical climate with dry winters and hot summers, typical of northern Vietnam, but with its own unique characteristics.

The geographical location and complex topography have shaped the unique climatic characteristics of Thai Nguyen, providing a golden foundation for the tea industry in particular and agriculture in general. The average annual temperature is high: Temperatures fluctuate stably between 22-24°C, the perfect temperature for the growth and accumulation of rich flavor in tea buds. Rainfall is abundant and concentrated, with an annual total of 1,800 to 2,200 mm, but nearly 90% is concentrated in the summer, creating a distinct humidity contrast. The average annual relative humidity reaches approximately 80-82%, ensuring lush green vegetation and vigorous tea plant growth throughout the year.

Thai Nguyen's soil and land characteristics are also very unique. Studies show that most of the key tea-growing areas in Thai Nguyen are located on soil of a very special origin, developed on shale and ancient red-yellow ferralitic alluvial soil. This is a characteristic soil type of the midland region, with high porosity, allowing tea plant roots to easily penetrate and absorb nutrients. The soil is a mixture of light loam and gravel, allowing for good drainage while retaining necessary moisture. Tea plants cannot tolerate waterlogging, so this soil structure is crucial for tea's survival.

Thai Nguyen's soil has an ideal pH level, ranging from 4.5 to 5.5, which helps tea plants absorb trace elements such as iron, aluminum, and manganese to the maximum extent, contributing to the tea's vibrant golden-green color. Finally, the most valuable micronutrient content—the biggest difference between Thai Nguyen tea and tea from other regions—is the micronutrient content in the soil. Tea plants absorb air and nutrients from the soil… that's how 'tea soil' is created.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202601/phia-sau-hai-tieng-dat-che-a4f5687/