Vietnamese Lotus Tea: A Unique and Captivating Beverage

When did Vietnamese lotus tea originate?

Up to now, there isn’t any document that accurately states when Vietnamese lotus tea originated. However, according to Vietnamese folklore, lotus tea has been around for a long time. It’s said that during the Nguyen dynasty in Hue, the kings often ordered servants to row boats to lotus ponds to select the most fragrant lotus blossoms for making lotus tea.

During the summer months, during the time of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. Highly skilled servants would row out to the middle of the lotus pond at night and find the perfect buds. They would carefully place the tea leaves inside each flower and tie them shut with thin bamboo strips.

The next morning, the servants would return to the pond and collect the tea. They would then use the dew that had gathered on the lotus leaves to boil water and brew the tea. This special process infused the tea with the delicate and unique fragrance of the lotus flower, creating a truly delightful cup of tea.

There are two main ways Vietnamese people make lotus tea today

To make delicious lotus tea, Vietnamese people believe that the lotus flowers must be harvested in the early morning, just as they are beginning to bloom. This is the time when the flowers are most fragrant.

The harvesting process must be done very carefully to avoid damaging the delicate petals. After harvesting the lotus flowers, Vietnamese people have two ways to make lotus tea:

The first way

1. Nesting the Tea Leaves: The process begins with carefully tucking tea leaves inside the unopened lotus buds.

2. Protective Wrap: To further protect the delicate contents, the entire bud is then wrapped in a layer of fresh lotus leaves.

3. Securing the Bud: Once the bud is wrapped in lotus leaves, a thin bamboo strip is used to tie it shut.

4. Overnight Infusion: The final step is to leave the wrapped lotus bud to rest overnight. During this time, the tea leaves gently absorb the wonderful essence of the lotus flower. The fragrance and flavors slowly transfer from the flower to the tea leaves, creating the unique taste of lotus tea.

The second way

This is a meticulous method of making lotus tea, but the resulting flavor will be exquisite and can be enjoyed throughout the year.

1. Separating Stamens: This step focuses on carefully harvesting the fragrant part of the lotus flower.

– The tea maker starts by gently opening the unopened lotus buds.

– They then meticulously extract the stamens, which are the male reproductive organs of the flower.

– Importantly, they only select the white portion of the stamen, which is likely the most flavorful part.

2. Infusing the Tea: This step focuses on transferring the lotus flower’s essence to the tea leaves.

– The extracted white stamen is placed directly into green tea leaves.

– This mixture is left for several days, allowing the flavors to meld together.

– During this infusion process, the delicate aroma and taste of the lotus flower are absorbed by the green tea leaves.

3. Separating the green tea leaves from the stamen: This step ensures the final tea doesn’t contain unwanted elements.

– The tea maker uses a traditional tool to separate the green tea leaves from the used stamen.

– This ensures that only the green tea leaves, now infused with the lotus flavor, remain for brewing.

Famous places for delicious lotus tea in Vietnam

Hanoi

The lotus tea of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is considered to be one of the finest in this country. This is due in part to the unique qualities of the lotus flowers grown in West Lake ( Vietnamese: Hồ Tây), which is located northwest of the city center. The lotus flowers grown in West Lake are known for their intense fragrance.

Hue

Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital, boasts a reputation for exquisite lotus tea. This prized beverage was a popular choice during the Nguyen Dynasty, enjoyed by the royal court. To ensure its perfection, only the finest lotus flowers were handpicked and meticulously prepared by the most skilled artisans.

Today, the people of Hue continue to preserve this ancient tradition, crafting lotus tea with the same dedication and care. The result is a truly exceptional tea that embodies the rich history and cultural heritage of Vietnam.