There was a time when drinking tea in Vietnam was a dying art. Most of the older generations still drank tea. The younger generation was not as interested. Today tea in and FROM Vietnam is making a comeback. The younger generations are once again considering tea. Vietnamese people generally favor lighter teas with flower fragrances. Green tea is the most popular among Vietnamese people.
Tea from Vietnam is special considering the tea trees are some of the world’s oldest dating back to over 1,000 years.
Is Vietnam famous for tea?
You will find that the tea in Vietnam is rather simple and plain. Vietnamese teas are generally lighter and delicate when black, white, or oolong. The tea that is drunk the most would be green tea. Green tea is by far the most popular tea that comes out of Vietnam. The green teas are consumed stronger and generally, nothing is added to the teas. Drinking tea in Vietnam is an art. The most popular drink is green tea w/ floral undertones.
Vietnamese tea was known only within its Asian borders for many years. Until recently when the global trading of teas opened up its border.
A few years ago I met a vendor from Vietnam. This was at the Chicago International Tea Festival and met one vendor from Vietnam. The teas were lovely and he also offered the customary sweet to have prior to drinking the tea.
A delicate combination of Thai Nguyen green tea and lotus flower, with elaborate marinating process and modern production technology creates a product with a unique flavor and flavor for Vietnamese tea.
Examples of Vietnamese tea
Tan Cuong – Not a tea but a providence where the best-known tea is from. This area has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication by the government. These teas are produced by small family farmers. The teas were rolled and shaped into a small hook.
Golden infusion with a warm, roasted aroma and a smoky, nutty flavor
Vietnamese lotus tea (Tra Sen) – A specialty tea similar to that of Jasmine tea( also produced in Vietnam). Green tea leaves are placed with lotus flowers for a day to capture the essence of the lotus flower. The differences in grades reversed for that of Jasmine tea. With Jasmine tea, it’s considered a lower class if the jasmine petals stay with the tea leaves. Lotus tea is considered a higher quality of tea when green teas are made with the lotus flower combined. Brewing this tea takes about two minutes. Anything longer than that will create a bitter taste.
Product of Vietnam 2g x 100 Tea Bags Lotus Leaf 90% - Sweet Leaf 10%
Other teas produced by Vietnam
Tra Shan Tuyet– this tea is produced from the oldest tea trees in the Ha Giang province.
Tra Sam Dura – a delicacy in the central areas of Vietnam. A combination of green tea and jasmine basil and pandan leaves
Vietnam OP- Delicious Vietnamese loose leaf black tea! Loose Vietnamese black tea.
Good early to mid-morning tea. High caffeine. Perfect breakfast tea!
Tra Atiso – is an interesting herbal tea made from the artichoke plant.
Tra Dang – A bitter tea used medicinally for headaches, high blood pressure, colds, and fever. The name means bitter tea.
Vert du Vietnam green tea has been carefully crafted using a particular combination of pan-firing, rolling and oven roasting to maintain a rich, jade-green color and a distinctive, slender, beautifully twisted leaf.
Che Nu – A tea created by only using the bud of the tea flower
Che Vor – Created using the tea flower bud and the leaves of the cleistocalyx operculate tree.
Vietnamese also creates Jasmine tea, chrysanthemum theta, Agila tea, and tra soi. This is another flower tea made from the Chloranthaceae family. The Chloranthaceae family of flowers are fragrant shrubs.
And of course, an iced (Da) tea (Tra) is served in places to eat. Tra Da is an iced tea
Vietnamese bubble tea – is not much different than the boba tea you will find in boba tea stores. It’s a milky, tapioca, syrupy drink that can be flavored with fruits and or berries. Vietnamese bubble tea does contain tea. However, like most boba teas the sugary starchy stuff outweighs the benefits of the tea.
Che Shan Tuyet or Shan Snow Tea – There are trees that grow in the wild up in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. These teas can be steeped over 10 times. The trees themselves are over 300 years old.
History of Vietnamese tea
So where does Vietnamese tea show up in the world’s tea-producing nations? It might surprise you that Vietnam is number 5. From a country that was hardly known for its tea, now comes in at number. Vietnam produces about 214 thousand tons of tea. Vietnam uses the orthodox method of tea production. Using the whole leaf. They also use the CTC method as well.
That’s a lot of tea. Vietnam began producing its own tea in the late 1800s. French immigrants created the tea plantations northwest of Hanoi. Tea is grown in over half of the provinces and cities of Vietnam.
There is a thing called “tea meditation”. This is a tea that was associated with Buddhism. This tea was popular inside the Vietnamese royal court. It was a tea that was drunk by the noble lines of Vietnam.
The Vietnam Tea Association (VITA) was founded on July 19, 1998, and its goal is to protect and inform growers, consumers, and business owners of Vietnamese teas
The more common people simply picked their own tea. The green tea leaves were washed, crumpled up, brewed, and enjoyed. This is still a practice today, many people in the countryside still grow their own tea trees. Preparing the same way as their ancestors by putting the tea leaves into hot water and enjoying.
As discussed earlier the older people of Vietnam drink tea daily. They drink tea and appreciate its closeness to nature. As well as after meals and gatherings of the family. There is respect for the land and the tea it produces. The younger people are finding their way back to the famous cups of tea. They probably had no choice considering tea is connected to the culture in an abundant way.
Tea is used in many ceremonies including weddings and opening ceremonies.
The tea trees of Vietnam are indigenous wild tea trees. Trees in Vietnam are called shan. You will see the shan name appear in some of the tea names.
Tea production was well on its way in the 1820s until World War II. So many tea fields were destroyed during that time.
Today Vietnamese tea is being promoted by the VITAS or Vietnamese Tea Association. The VITAS is working to get the tea into the worldwide market and increase the earnings of the tea farmers.
Lotus-scented green tea from Vietnam is not short on health benefits. Vietnamese lotus green tea contains:
- Polyphenols
- Catechin named EGCG
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Small amounts of minerals
These antioxidants can have various beneficial effects on your health
- Providing collagen
- Healing wounds
- Brightening up complexion
- Skin tone
Vietnamese tea is not cheap. But it was not so expensive that it cannot be enjoyed by everyone. The most expensive tea may be the ones that are wrapped in Lotus leaves.
The cheapest tea is from Yunnan, China. Dianhong, a
Product of Vietnam. Contains various good-for-health herbal leaves
How to serve Vietnamese tea
Visiting Vietnam you will be offered tea many times. At first, you may say no, but eventually, you will give in. There are many people who hover all day over a cup of tea enjoying good conversion and a great cup of tea.
While people of Vietnam enjoy many types of teas. Including Black, oolong, green, and scented as well as some herbals. Green tea is the choice that wins overall.
You can enjoy a good cup of green tea several times from the same strainer of tea. Vietnamese people love a more bland lighter tea so getting more steeps out of a cup of tea is common. Warming the bottom of the cup by adding hot water is also a common thing to do.
A Vietnamese Wedding Ceremony That Includes Tea
There is no set tea ceremony for the serving of Vietnamese tea. However, a tea ceremony is a very important part of the bride and groom’s wedding day.
During the wedding, a time has been set aside for the bride and groom to share tea with the families. This time frame is about 20-30 minutes. The best man will hold the tea tray while the maid of honor ours the tea into two small teacups. The couple picks up the teacups and offers tea to the family members. Starting with the oldest to the youngest. After the tea is served it is time to present the bride and groom with gifts if so chosen to do so. This is the time of words spoken to the couple to encourage them. To impart wisdom for a successful long and healthy marriage.
Conclusion
The tea world continues to grow and amaze me at every turn. Tea trees that are over 1,000 years old. A country that is spiritually connected to its tea and tea trees. Vietnamese teas cover a lot of ground. From black to green and then a beautiful lotus tea. Let’s keep our cups filled to where we never want to say no to a cup of Vietnamese tea.
