Vietnamese Tea: A Comprehensive Guide to its History, Varieties, and Culture

10 min

Tea

Vietnamese people drink tea all year round. For them, sipping a cup of tea is not just about enjoying the taste, but also about initiating conversations, turning unfamiliar encounters into friendships. In this article, let’s explore the fascinating aspects of tea culture in Vietnam.

Introduction

Vietnam boasts a millennia-old love affair with tea. Evidence of this deep-rooted tradition can be found in the writings of scholar Phạm Đình Hổ (1768 – 1839) within his book “Vũ trung tùy bút,” which mentions the custom of tea drinking dating back thousands of years.

Further solidifying this history, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences unearthed fossilized tea leaves and plants in Phú Thọ Province. This region, considered the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people, is where the Hung Kings established the Văn Lang state around the 7th century BC.

In the past, tea was considered a luxury drink only enjoyed by royalty or the upper class. The rituals of making and drinking tea were also quite elaborate, requiring the person serving the tea to show respect for their elders and superiors.

Nowadays, the tea drinking culture of Vietnamese people is present everywhere, regardless of rich or poor, noble or humble. Whether it is a noble family or an ordinary family, whether it is a stall in the market or a high-class restaurant, … everyone can freely sip a cup of hot tea. Especially during major celebrations like weddings, funerals, ancestral worship, or even on ordinary days, tea is cherished and savored.

Types of Vietnamese tea

Vietnamese green tea

Image: Trà Xanh Hữu Cơ Thái Nguyên

Green tea reigns supreme in Vietnam, the most popular choice among tea drinkers. With its unoxidized leaves, it maintains the pure essence of tea. Once brewed, it presents a bright hue, gentle aroma, and a hint of bitterness. Rich in EGCG, a robust antioxidant, green tea is renowned for its heart-protective benefits.

Vietnamese black tea

Black tea is a type of tea whose tea leaves undergo complete oxidation, resulting in a final result with a dark brown color. When brewed, black tea produces a dark brown drink with a stronger flavor compared to other types of tea.

Vietnamese oolong tea

Unlike black tea and green tea, oolong occupies a fascinating middle ground. Its leaves undergo partial oxidation, anywhere from 8% to 80%, creating a spectrum of colors and a wide range of flavors and aromas. Oolong tea is usually rolled into small, round balls. This is a signature feature of oolong tea, making it easy to spot!

Vietnamese specialty teas

Vietnamese lotus tea

Image: Trà Sen Tây Hồ

For a truly unique tea experience, try Vietnamese lotus tea! It’s a unique blend of green tea and the delicate fragrance of lotus flowers, creating a truly unique aroma and taste.

Making lotus tea is an art form. Skilled tea makers carefully select lotus buds that have just bloomed in the early morning. These hold the purest essence of the flower’s fragrance.

Here’s the fascinating part: the tea leaves are tucked inside the lotus buds. Then, the whole thing is tied shut and wrapped in a protective layer of lotus leaves. Left to rest overnight, the tea absorbs the flower’s wonderful essence.

The next day, the tea is ready to be brewed. Take a sip, and you’ll be transported to a Vietnamese garden filled with the delicate scent of lotus flowers.

Vietnamese jasmine tea

Jasmine tea is a delicious Vietnamese drink packed with health benefits. It’s made by combining green tea, with fragrant jasmine flowers, creating a captivating aroma and taste.

To make jasmine tea, jasmine flowers are picked at their peak fragrance and placed in a small porcelain bowl. Green tea is then added on top, and the bowl is covered tightly. The tea is left to absorb the jasmine’s fragrance for several hours.

Once the tea has absorbed the jasmine’s fragrance the flowers are gently removed. Now comes the best part: brewing the tea with hot water. It can be enjoyed steaming hot or chilled for a refreshing treat.

Vietnamese cinnamon tea

Vietnamese cinnamon tea is a delicious and warming drink made with just a few simple ingredients. To make it, place a cinnamon stick and some honey in a cup, then pour in boiled water. Let it steep for 10-15 minutes, and enjoy!

Vietnamese gotu kola tea

Gotu kola tea is usually brewed by steeping dried gotu kola leaves in hot water. This tea has a delicate, nuanced flavor that’s slightly grassy and subtly sweet. It can be savored plain or enhanced with additional flavors like lemon, or honey.

Vietnamese artichoke tea

In Vietnam, there are two types of tea called artichoke tea: green artichoke tea and red artichoke tea. They come from different plants and taste different.

Green artichoke tea is made from the Cynara Scolymus plant.

Red artichoke tea is made from the Hibiscus Sabdariffa plant.

The next time you’re in Vietnam, be sure to try both types of artichoke tea and see which one you prefer!

Vietnamese ginger tea

Feeling under the weather? In Vietnam, we have a comforting drink called ginger tea. It’s a simple recipe made by simmering sliced ginger in water. Then, we add a squeeze of fresh lemon and a touch of honey for a soothing warm drink. Perfect for easing a sore throat or a stuffy nose!

Where Vietnam’s Finest Teas Are Cultivated

Northwest (Tay Bac)

Tay Bac (literally “Northwest”) is one of Vietnam’s regions, located in the mountainous northwestern part of the country. It includes six provinces: Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai.

This region is home to a special tea called Shan Tuyet. These aren’t your usual tea plants; they’re hundreds of years old and really tall! They like to live up in the clouds, above 1200 meters, where it’s cool and misty all year round. The best part? They’re grown completely naturally, without any chemicals.

Shan Tuyet tea smells wonderful and has a beautiful golden color, like honey. The people who live in the mountains, the Tay, Mong, and Dao, make the tea using special methods that have been around for a long time.

Thai Nguyen province

Nestled in Vietnam’s Northeast region, Thai Nguyen province is a mountainous paradise famous for its lush tea plantations. With over 16,000 hectares dedicated to tea cultivation, the region boasts ideal soil and climate conditions for nurturing the finest tea plants.

Early each morning, while the dew still glistens on the leaves, local farmers carefully handpick the freshest tea leaves. These leaves are then meticulously processed and crafted into the exquisite tea that Thai Nguyen is renowned for.

Thai Nguyen tea captivates drinkers with its striking color and distinctive flavor profile. Its brewed infusion presents an invitingly bright golden hue, accompanied by a gentle, refreshing aroma. Sipping Thai Nguyen tea delivers a subtle, pleasantly mild bitterness followed by a lingering, sweet aftertaste.

Among the many tea-growing regions in Thai Nguyen, Tan Cuong takes the crown. Their tea is legendary for its exceptional quality and taste.

Bao Loc – Lam Dong

Image: Trà Trí Việt

Back in the early 1930s, the French discovered a hidden gem in Vietnam’s mountains: the Bao Loc region (formerly known as B’lao). They saw the perfect place to grow exceptional tea. And guess what? They were right!

Nestled at an altitude of 800-1,000 meters above sea level, Bao Loc boasts fertile soil and a climate that’s perfect for tea plants. This ideal environment, along with careful cultivation, is the secret behind the consistently high quality of Bao Loc tea.

So, what makes Bao Loc tea so special? Take a sip, and you’ll be greeted by a delightful aroma and a unique sweet taste that sets it apart. This region is especially famous for its Oolong tea, a variety prized for its complex and satisfying flavor profile.

Vietnamese Tea Culture

In Vietnam, tea isn’t just a drink, it’s a cultural tradition. It’s enjoyed everywhere, from bustling cities to quiet villages. Step inside a Vietnamese home, and a steaming cup of tea might be the first thing offered. It’s a warm welcome. The same goes for special occasions – holidays, weddings, family reunions – tea is always there, bringing people together.

The art of tea drinking in Vietnam

In Vietnam, there’s a whole art form to enjoying tea! The Vietnamese take their time, savoring every step of the experience. They first bring the cup to their nose, to savor the aroma. Then, they take a small sip, enjoying the initial bitterness followed by a wave of sweetness that leaves a refreshing feeling. It’s a truly mindful way to appreciate the subtle flavors of tea.

Water

The water used to make tea is considered very important. In the past, it was traditionally rainwater collected from the sky or sourced from natural springs. Some people would even go as far as to collect dew from lotus leaves early in the morning.

Time

The time of day when tea is consumed is also important. Tea connoisseurs believe that drinking tea in the early morning (between 4-5 AM) is best for both health and mind. It helps to set the tone for the day and focus on positive thoughts.

Space

The space should be a wide-open space that allows for a sense of peace and tranquility. Ideally, it should be surrounded by nature and decorated with artwork, calligraphy, or other objects that promote relaxation and contemplation.

Summary

Vietnam has a long history of tea drinking, dating back thousands of years.

Vietnam offers a wide variety of teas, from classic green and black to unique options like lotus and jasmine, each with its own flavor profile and purpose.

Vietnam boasts tea-growing regions like Tay Bac for naturally-grown Shan Tuyet, Thai Nguyen for its Tan Cuong, and Bao Loc for its French-discovered sweet Oolong tea.

Tea is offered as a gesture of hospitality and enjoyed during social gatherings.

The Vietnamese prioritize the leisurely enjoyment of tea, with emphasis on savoring its aroma and taste, sometimes considering factors like water source and time of day, within tranquil settings for consumption.

Did you know Vietnam is a major player in the tea world? Vietnam ranks high on the list for both the amount of land dedicated to growing tea plants and the total amount of tea they produce. This delicious beverage is becoming increasingly popular with international tea enthusiasts. What makes Vietnamese tea so special? Well, the flavor itself is wonderful. But it’s more than just the taste that sets it apart. Tea drinking in Vietnam is a unique cultural experience. So, if you’re looking for a unique and delicious cup of tea, consider giving Vietnamese tea a try – you might just discover your new favorite!

Vietnam currently ranks fifth in the world for tea-growing land area and sixth for tea production worldwide. There are 34 provinces and cities in Vietnam where tea is grown, covering a total area of 130 thousand hectares. The annual production reaches 1.02 million tons of fresh tea buds, equivalent to 196 thousand tons of dried tea leaves (as of 2022). (Source: https://nhandan.vn/de-che-viet-vuon-xa-post744185.html)