Promoting the Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea brand.

In early 2025, Ba Che Golden Flower Tea, produced by Dap Thanh Forestry Products Trading Joint Stock Company, received a national 5-star OCOP certification. This is a source of pride and a driving force contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality. However, to fully exploit the potential of this 5-star product, specific strategies are needed.

Leaders of Ba Chẽ district visit a model of growing golden flower tea in Thanh Lâm commune. Photo: Bình Minh (CTV)

Golden flower tea, often called "green gold," is renowned for its exceptional economic value and health benefits. It's a precious medicinal plant, with each part—leaves, buds, and flowers—having unique health uses. Although also grown in other regions like Bac Kan, Lang Son, Ninh Binh, and Vinh Phuc, Ba Che golden flower tea possesses its own distinct characteristics. The most noticeable feature is the purplish-violet color of the calyx, contrasting with the green commonly seen in other areas. Thanks to its hilly terrain, rich vegetation, unique soil, and sustainable farming practices, the people of Ba Che have created exquisite tea buds with a rich cultural identity. Becoming one of the key crops in Ba Che's development strategy to become a center for forestry and medicinal herbs, golden flower tea has helped many ethnic minority communities in Ba Che improve their lives. The OCOP (One Commune One Product) Ba Che Golden Flower Tea brand is loved and trusted by many domestic consumers.

A key figure in building the Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea brand is Mr. Ninh Van Trang, Director of Dap Thanh Forestry Products Trading Joint Stock Company. In early 2023, with a 300 million VND grant from the national industrial promotion program, he boldly invested in a freeze-drying machine worth 950 million VND. This optimized labor costs and increased the drying productivity of the golden flower tea plant's flowers and leaves. The final product has a higher aesthetic appeal and is well-received by consumers. This also gave Mr. Ninh Van Trang more confidence when completing the application to submit to the National OCOP Product Evaluation and Classification Council for consideration of a 5-star OCOP product rating for Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea.

Mr. Ninh Van Trang, Director of Dap Thanh Forestry Products Trading Joint Stock Company, introduces Ba Che golden flower tea product at the provincial OCOP fair.

Currently, dried golden camellia flowers of grade 1 are priced from 1.2 million VND/100g; grade 2 is 700,000 VND/100g. Fresh golden camellia flowers of grade 1 sell for from 600,000 VND/kg. Because of its high economic value, this type of tea also possesses unique characteristics that require meticulous harvesting, preservation, and processing. Ms. Phong Thi Dan (Thanh Son commune, Ba Che district), who cultivates over 2.5 hectares of tea, with about two-thirds of her garden aged 7-10 years, said: "To get grade 1 quality camellia flowers, we have to start harvesting at 6 am. During peak season, we have to harvest all night. The golden camellia harvest season starts in December and lasts until March of the following year. Since planting this crop, we have gained a significant additional source of income."

The fact that Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea has been awarded a 5-star national OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating is the result of many years of effort by the local government and companies/cooperatives in enhancing commercial value and perfecting production processes according to international standards. To achieve this certification, the product must meet many strict criteria, from clean raw materials, safe processing procedures, standard packaging and design to economic efficiency and export potential.

According to Mr. Khieu Anh Tu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Che District, taking advantage of suitable soil conditions, Ba Che District has continuously expanded the area of ​​organic golden flower tea cultivation to approximately 160 hectares, mainly in the communes of Don Dac, Dap Thanh, Thanh Lam, Thanh Son, Nam Son, and Luong Mong. To date, Ba Che has implemented about 10 production-consumption linkage models and been granted tea growing area codes. The local government has proactively developed a development strategy and supported farmers in improving product quality. In addition, Ba Che is also promoting the golden flower tea brand through various media, trade fairs, e-commerce platforms, and the annual golden flower tea festival.

Having achieved the national 5-star OCOP certification, Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea has the opportunity to expand its market, especially for export to countries with a tradition of appreciating high-quality medicinal tea products such as Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. To take advantage of this valuable opportunity, cooperatives and businesses need to promote the application of technology in processing and improve product quality.

New packaging for Ba Chẽ Golden Flower Tea.

Mr. Ninh Van Trang, Director of Dap Thanh Forestry Products Trading Joint Stock Company, said: "Immediately after being recognized with a 5-star national rating, we changed the product packaging while maintaining the same price. Recently, several more companies have contacted us to purchase goods for domestic consumption. I have also proactively sought to learn from the export experiences of companies and cooperatives inside and outside the province that have similar tea and medicinal herb products. We hope to bring our products to international consumers as soon as possible. In the short term, this year, we will continue to actively participate in promotional activities such as OCOP fairs in various localities, e-commerce platforms; the Ba Che Golden Flower Tea Festival… We clearly understand that we must boost consumption and diversify our products to encourage more people to participate in growing this type of plant, bringing economic benefits to the locality."

Do Hung

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/thuc-day-thuong-hieu-tra-hoa-vang-ba-che-3353333.html