Golden Flower Tea and the Journey to Becoming a National Brand

The journey of yellow camellia in Bac Giang began in the early 21st century, when local people discovered a woody plant with bright yellow flowers growing scattered in the forest. At first, no one thought that this plant would bring great value. But then, when Chinese traders came to buy it at high prices, people realized the potential hidden in those yellow flowers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Luu, a farmer in Truong Son commune, Luc Nam district, said that around 2005, when he saw that the forest was being overexploited, he decided to bring yellow camellia branches back to try planting on his land. "At that time, it was very difficult, the young trees were weak, and he didn't know how to take care of them to survive." But with patience, Mr. Luu gradually found a way to cut branches, shade them, and water them regularly. From the first few trees, he expanded them into a small garden, then passed on his experience to his neighbors. Soon, yellow camellia branches began to take root in Bac Giang land, spreading from Luc Nam to Son Dong and Yen The.

When the yellow camellia began to gain attention, the Bac Giang provincial government quickly took action. Since 2017, a major project called “Research on conservation and development of yellow camellia in Bac Giang province” has been implemented by the Institute for Regional Research and Development. This project not only searches for good tea varieties but also builds a systematic cultivation process, supporting farmers in key districts such as Luc Nam and Son Dong to propagate yellow camellia.

On March 31, 2025, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Giang province signed Decision No. 467/QD-UBND, supporting 60 million VND for the 4-star OCOP product "Golden Flower Tea" of Truong Son High-Tech Medicinal Materials Cooperative. This is a big step forward, demonstrating the government's interest in improving local products. Previously, the provincial agricultural sector supported the cooperative with funds to purchase modern machinery such as tea packaging machines and freeze-drying machines to help Bac Giang's golden flower tea products meet standards before being sold on the market.

Golden flower tea is about 2-4 meters tall, has glossy green leaves, and yellow flowers that bloom from November to March, giving off a gentle fragrance. But what is valuable is the medicinal value of the tea. Scientists from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City have analyzed and found more than 400 compounds that are beneficial to health, help fight oxidation, reduce inflammation... from golden flower tea. "This is not just tea, but a precious herb", Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra, Business Director of Truong Son High-Tech Medicinal Cooperative affirmed when showing us the dried flowers. It is these characteristics that have helped golden flower tea become "pure gold" in Bac Giang land, completely different from ordinary teas.

In Luc Nam and Son Dong districts, yellow camellia gardens stretch over nearly 100 hectares. Local people say that the trees are suitable for cool climates, acidic soils and especially need shade. Therefore, they often plant them in fruit orchards. If propagating, cuttings are the best method. After cuttings, the trees are nurtured in the garden before being planted. Water must be applied evenly, organic fertilizers must be used and when the trees grow, they need to be pruned regularly to maintain their shape and avoid pests and diseases. Picking flowers is also an art, you must choose when the flowers are at their fullest bloom, and the leaves must be picked when they are still young.

Golden flower tea brings in a significant source of income, of which dried flowers are sold domestically for 3-5 million VND/kg, while exported to China can cost up to 10 million VND/kg. The average profit from growing golden flower tea is about 250 million VND/ha/year. Golden flower tea products are consumed through many channels such as: local markets, Shopee and Lazada.

Truong Son Cooperative also cooperates with distributors in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and exports to China. Notably, the Cooperative has invested in packaging, electronic traceability and quality declaration. The cooperative's products, with modern and uniform designs, were recognized as 4-star OCOP in 2025. In 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade honored yellow flower tea as a typical rural industrial product. Yellow flower tea products participate in many fairs and are promoted online, gradually affirming their name in the market.

With the yellow camellia tree, the lives of Bac Giang people are really changing. Previously, many households only relied on state subsidies for forest protection, but now intercropping with yellow camellia trees has helped them have a stable source of income. Typically, Truong Son Cooperative creates jobs for 20 workers, with a salary of 6 million VND/person/month. At the same time, more than 20 households in the Cooperative have successfully grown more than 40 hectares of yellow camellia and become an important source of income for the people here. Not only that, yellow camellia trees have also inspired many people to start a "business" to diversify crops and learn new techniques. "Thanks to the tea tree, my child can go to university," Ms. Lan, a cooperative member, smiled brightly when sharing with me.

The future of yellow camellia in Bac Giang is bright as Bac Giang province aims to have 500 hectares of yellow camellia by 2030, making it the largest production center in the country. To achieve this, the government is stepping up research, improving techniques, building infrastructure and finding new markets to support people in expanding the area of ​​this plant.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tra-hoa-va-hanh-trinh-tro-thanh-thuong-hieu-quoc-gia-post881959.html