Phuc Thuan develops specialty tea areas

Amidst the bustling urban life, when many traditional craft villages are gradually disappearing, Phuc Thuan ward still retains its own green color, which is the green color of tea hills. Tea trees not only have economic value but also are the "soul of the countryside", a cultural feature and memory that has been attached to many generations of people here.

Phuc Thuan ward authorities regularly pay attention to tea growing and processing cooperatives in the area. Photo: TL

In recent years, the urbanization rate in Phuc Thuan has been rapid, with many new residential areas and roads being formed. However, between the high-rise buildings and wide concrete roads, there are still about 600 hectares of tea plantations. The tea hills are meticulously cared for, preserving the traditional tea-making features of the people for generations. Along with that, businesses and cooperatives in the area operate effectively, contributing to spreading the quintessence of the Phuc Thuan tea brand.

Mr. Thach Tho Cong, Director of Cong Tam Minh Duc Tea Cooperative, shared: Preserving tea trees and preserving the profession is both our responsibility and pride. The basic production process is still manual to preserve the traditional flavor. At the same time, the Cooperative applies VietGAP procedures, bringing in machines for deep processing, creating products that meet OCOP 3-4 star standards.

Thanks to the methodical way of making, Phuc Thuan tea has firmly affirmed its position in the province and gradually expanded its market through e-commerce channels. Along with that, local people have developed a new direction of experiential tourism , visiting tea hills and learning about the production process so that tourists can witness and feel the tea culture.

Mr. Nguyen Tung Duong, representative of Viet Thai Tea Joint Stock Company, said: Phuc Thuan tea has a natural aroma, mild astringency and deep sweet aftertaste. We invest in modern production lines, produce according to strict processes to preserve the tea flavor, and at the same time build an organic tea area associated with geographical indications.

VietGAP tea products of Viet Thai Tea Joint Stock Company.

According to the representative of the Phuc Thuan ward government, the preservation of the traditional tea profession and area is a matter of concern. In fact, the area has been reduced due to house construction and land use conversion. Many young workers have left the tea profession to find other jobs, making it difficult to inherit the traditional profession.

Mr. Ta Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Thuan Ward, said: Phuc Thuan Ward has identified tea as a key crop, associated with cultural identity values. The government is reviewing land, protecting tea areas from the risk of conversion; supporting people to build cooperatives, processing enterprises, and develop product brands. At the same time, coordinating with banks to create favorable conditions for loans to expand production.

Currently, more than 70% of the tea growing area in Phuc Thuan Ward meets VietGAP standards. Many local tea products have affirmed their brands and become specialties of the province. On average, each tea growing household earns an income of 200 to 300 million VND per year; cooperatives and enterprises earn billions of VND in profits thanks to investing in deep processing and expanding online sales channels.

However, tea growers still face difficulties due to climate change, high prices of agricultural materials and limitations in post-harvest preservation. Some roadside areas are at risk of being concreted, narrowing the tea growing area.

To preserve the green color of tea trees amidst the urbanization process, the government and people of Phuc Thuan are making efforts to develop sustainable production, while at the same time linking tea growing with tourism, e-commerce and building local specialty brands. These efforts are helping the tea industry gain new vitality, in line with the development pace of modern urban areas.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202510/phuc-thuan-phat-trien-vung-che-dac-san-57127d5/