Ma Hien Kiet Tea: From homegrown to OCOP product

Thai women carry baskets on their backs, nimbly picking tea in Hien Kiet commune.

In spring, on the hillsides along Khiet stream, Hien Kiet commune is lush green. Tan Ma tea trees show off their young buds. There, we can see the silhouettes of Thai women carrying baskets on their backs, nimbly picking tea. Looking at the bright smiles on their faces, we can clearly feel the revival of this ancient tea.

In the past, Tan Ma tea was mainly picked in the forest, the quantity was not much so it was often only used to serve guests. Perhaps that is why the tea is called Tan Ma - in Thai it means honored guests, meaning the product is used to welcome honored guests. Nowadays, tea trees are grown by many people in their gardens. "For us Thai people now, money is leaves, leaves are also money. Fresh old tea leaves can still be sold for 20 - 30 thousand VND/kg, fresh tea buds for 50 thousand VND/kg. Tan Ma tea is good for the heart, digestive system and skin" - Ms. Loc Thi Thoa, representative of the Hien Kiet Tan Ma tea cooperative and business group, shared.

As the only border commune of Quan Hoa district, Hien Kiet commune has thousands of hectares of natural forest. Initially, tea was harvested by local people for preliminary processing to serve family needs. The end of 2020 marked an important step forward when the Tan Ma Hien Kiet tea production and business cooperative was established, with more than 30 members. With the goal of "Taking advantage of local strengths - Promoting internal resources", the cooperative has built a development plan associated with product consumption, targeting the community, and developing the scale of local tea products.

Ms. Loc Thi Thoa, representative of Tan Ma Hien Kiet tea cooperative and business group.

To build the brand, the local government has actively guided people to change traditional production practices, ensuring food safety and hygiene. Before being sold on the market, all products are quality tested, do not use preservatives or substances harmful to human health. In 2021, Tan Ma Hien Kiet tea products were recognized as 3-star OCOP products at the provincial level. Since then, Tan Ma tea trees have helped many people in Hien Kiet commune have jobs and income. Ms. Thoa said: "Unlike before, each household did things on their own, now households are supported with knowledge training, linking together to develop and consume products. Each month, members of the group process and supply 80 - 100 kg of dried Tan Ma tea to the market, with a selling price of 200,000 VND/kg".

To support people in developing ancient tea trees, the Quan Hoa district government has proactively stepped in, accompanying people in building raw material areas; providing instructions on how to plant, care for, prune, and create tea tree canopy according to technical procedures; building brands and finding consumption markets. According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quan Hoa district, the whole district currently has about 100 hectares of Tan Ma tea, mainly concentrated in Hien Kiet, Hien Chung, Hoi Xuan communes... In Poong 2 village alone, Hien Kiet commune, there are 30 households participating in the Tan Ma Hien Kiet tea production cooperative with a total area of ​​nearly 50 hectares.

“The planning of concentrated raw material areas still faces many difficulties due to the scattered tea area, requiring efforts and perseverance in the coming time” - Mr. Le Van Nam, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quan Hoa district, shared and added: “Currently, Quan Hoa district is coordinating with functional agencies to gradually improve the quality of tea, at the same time propagating and mobilizing people to expand the area towards concentrated production, ensuring traceability of origin, enhancing promotion and introducing products widely to markets inside and outside the province, creating favorable conditions for product consumption”.

Hopefully, by taking advantage of the local potential and advantages, Tan Ma tea products will increasingly reach further, meet market demand, create more jobs and income, gradually change and improve the quality of life, contribute to building new rural areas, and a new life for people in the border commune of Hien Kiet.

Article and photos: Tang Thuy

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/che-tan-ma-hien-kiet-tu-cay-nha-la-vuon-den-san-pham-ocop-244581.htm