It's no coincidence that an international tea festival is being held in Hue. While not the tea capital of Vietnam with its famous tea specialties like Thai Nguyen (in the north) or Da Lat (in the south), this former capital of Vietnam captivates many with its stories about tea. During the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue had its own royal tea. Legend says that to prepare tea for the emperor, in the evening, palace maidens would row boats out to Tinh Tam Lake, place tea leaves among lotus buds, and then row back to the lake early the next morning to retrieve the lotus-scented tea to offer to the emperor.

Like all art forms and forms of enjoyment, there are courtly forms and folk forms, and that is a unique characteristic of a region like Hue , once a capital city. Traditionally in Hue, food stalls, even those selling clam rice from mobile carts, always offer a pot of green tea to customers. In Hue, people often start their day with a hot pot of tea, and Hue tea doesn't need to be expensive; just a few green tea leaves picked from the hills and brewed in an earthenware teapot. The aroma of the tea, mingled with the morning mist and the sound of birds at the start of the day, is enough to soothe the soul.

To be fair, the people of Hue are also very proud of their famous Truoi tea. In Hue, tea connoisseurs often go to the market early to find fresh, green bundles of Truoi tea to enjoy. Truoi tea has small, yellow, thick, and crisp leaves that crackle when broken... The tea liquor is clear and green, without bitterness or astringency. After drinking, it leaves a sweet aftertaste in the throat, making anyone who has tasted it fondly remember it. When brewing, ginger should not be added as it easily detracts from the tea's original flavor.

For many years now, I've regularly met with my dear old teacher at Vu Di Tea House, a tea house located in the Thien An tourist area, known as the "Da Lat of Hue." Vu Di Tea House boasts a collection of premium teas from all over. However, what truly captivates my teacher, me, and other travelers is the spirit of Hue tea, encapsulated in six words: "Precious tea, precious people, precious affection." Here, tea isn't drunk hastily or in large quantities; it's drunk to savor, to listen, and to contemplate. Vu Di Tea House also embodies the harmony of "heaven, earth, and people" (weather, tea source, tea maker, space, and the drinker's mindset) to create a truly delicious cup of tea.

It has been suggested that Hue's tea culture is the pinnacle of Vietnamese tea-drinking art. While Hanoi tea is simple and Saigon tea is free-spirited, Hue tea is refined, elaborate, elegant, and imbued with the essence of the royal court, Zen philosophy, and poetry. I believe that the 2025 International Tea Festival at Truong Sanh Palace in the Imperial Citadel, where each tea story is told with inspiration, youthfulness, and vibrancy, is also an opportunity to honor and spread the cultural values ​​of Hue tea.

Dan Duy

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/van-hoa-tra-hue-160937.html