Indulge in Thai Tea

In Thai Nguyen, we traveled from Dong Hy to Dai Tu, then turned to Phu Binh, Song Cong... But the most exciting trip was definitely the field trip to Tan Cuong - a land that contributed to the creation of the First Famous Tea. Located about 50 km northeast of Hanoi, Dung Tan Trade and Tourism Center is located at Km20, National Highway 3, Cai Dan Ward, Song Cong City, Thai Nguyen Province, and is considered by experts to be an international-class ecological garden tourism area. Coming to Dung Tan, visitors can enjoy the fresh air, immerse themselves in the impressive scenery of the Japanese-style garden, converging all kinds of rare ornamental plants from Vietnam and many countries around the world. On the afternoon of March 27, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Hanoi, starting a State visit to Vietnam from March 27 to March 29, at the invitation of President Luong Cuong. In Thai Nguyen, we traveled from Dong Hy to Dai Tu, then turned to Phu Binh, Song Cong... But the most exciting was definitely the field trip to Tan Cuong - a land that contributed to the creation of the First Famous Tea. Implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021 - 2030 period; Phase I: from 2021 to 2025 (National Target Program 1719), Phu Yen province has mobilized the participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots. Along with that, the consensus of the people, especially ethnic minorities, has been contributing to creating a new look in the ethnic minority areas of Phu Yen province. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will invest in 10 canals through the forest, leading irrigation water to Ia Mor, Chu Prong district (Gia Lai) to irrigate more than 2,000 hectares of crops, helping people in the area grow rice 2-3 crops/year. This is good news for the people, a "push" for this border area to ensure food security, promote economic development, and improve people's lives. On the afternoon of March 27, the working delegation led by Mr. Tran Anh Tuan - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, had a working session with the People's Committee of Phuoc Son district, on the implementation of national target programs in the area. The Ede ethnic group in Dak Lak province has a diverse and rich traditional culture with unique festivals, customs and practices. In particular, the Health Worship Ceremony is an important ritual, showing the respect and filial piety of children and grandchildren to their grandparents and parents. The Health Worship Ceremony is not only an occasion for the Ede people to express their respect to their ancestors but also an opportunity for family members and the community to gather, visit, share joy and wish each other health and happiness. General news of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper. The morning news on March 25th has the following notable information: Quang Nam issues land support policy for ethnic minorities. Vietnam's ancient cathedral gets new tiles. Farmers voluntarily ask to leave poverty, become billionaires. Along with other current news in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. After the Ethnic and Development Newspaper published an article about the reaction of parents related to the case of "28 teachers and students of Marie Curie Binh Duong School hospitalized after lunch"; readers sent messages asking for further clarification of the responsibility of the authorities. Throughout history, religion has always accompanied the country and the people. The ethical and cultural values ​​of religion have contributed significantly to strengthening national identity, maintaining social ethics, promoting solidarity, and joining hands to build a rich and civilized country. Graduated from Banking and Finance with a stable job in Da Nang, but Mr. Huynh Vien Man (32 years old, Dai Lanh commune, Dai Loc, Quang Nam) decided to return to his hometown to start a business. After many years of effort, he has now built his own civet farm, earning more than half a billion VND per year. Investing in traffic infrastructure and especially the Hanoi - Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway with a budget of about 33,000 billion VND will contribute to breaking the monopoly of National Highway 6, creating momentum for socio-economic development of the entire Northwest region. Binh Duong Provincial Youth Union has just opened a gallery displaying more than 3,000 photos and artifacts about the activities of former President Nguyen Minh Triet from 2006 to 2011. The event is to celebrate the 94th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 - March 26, 2025), the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Tea hills in Tan Cuong in the morning mist attract tourists

Thai Nguyen is the land of tea. Just open your eyes and you will see tea, with long rows; sometimes they are curved like the flat land of low, gently sloping hills. Tea trees have been present in Thai Nguyen in general, and in Tan Cuong in particular, since the early years of the 20th century, following the policy of a mandarin named Nghe So. At that time, he and his people brought tea varieties from Phu Tho to cultivate, with the aim of eliminating hunger and reducing poverty.

Originally from Tan Cuong, tea trees have increasingly asserted their position in Thai Nguyen, spreading to the areas of Trai Cai, La Bang and Phu Luong... Today, the total tea area of ​​the province is more than 22,500 hectares, bringing in an annual value of about 1 billion USD. Tea trees are becoming a way to escape poverty and enrich ethnic minorities in Thai Nguyen province.

Speaking specifically of tea, Thai Nguyen tea. Why does it have such a position? Please tell me! The tea hills here lean against the Tam Dao range, catching the full morning sun as well as the solar radiation in the afternoon, to capture all the essence and spirit of heaven and earth. Then the soil, mainly feralit, is watered by the Cong River, Cau River, Nui Coc Lake; combined with the long-standing experience of planting and processing of the people to contribute to creating a passionate and loving idiom: "Thai tea, Tuyen girls".

The salty and sweet tea fields in Tan Cuong

The day we visited the Hao Dat Tea Cooperative in Tan Cuong commune, walking among the immense tea fields, we were filled with a fragrant aroma. The aroma of tea in Tan Cuong has the fresh morning sunlight, the mist from the Tam Dao mountain range gently descending, the salty and bitter smell of the sun and rain, the light brown color on the pan stirred evenly, and the rich sweet aftertaste when encountering a delicate and skillful brewing method. The tea ceremony, or tea ceremony, also begins from one of those factors.

The people of Xinjiang process tea using traditional manual methods. We noticed the hands of the mountain girls nimbly picking tea, but it was the calculated agility, technique, and experience of a profession that has been passed down from father to son. When the morning sun was shining, the tea buds were picked, carefully and cherished. Through elaborate processing steps, they became a luxury drink, available in many demanding markets.

And not only us, many groups of tourists coming to Tan Cuong tea region could not stop exclaiming how beautiful and attractive it is! In response to those expressions, the tea fields in Tan Cuong, Trai Cai, La Bang and Phu Luong have become check-in spots for tourists without them knowing; tea products have become a drink for tea connoisseurs since time immemorial.

Xinjiang people harvest tea by hand

As the ancestral land of tea trees, Tan Cuong is of course also the starting point for the Spring Tea Festival originating from Guoc hamlet. We have not had the chance to attend this unique festival, but what the mountain girls told us during their field trip was so fascinating that it was captivating. Just imagine that the festival is held every year in early spring, with activities such as tea making competitions to invite guests combined with accompanying cultural and artistic activities such as poetry reading, cockfighting, chess, martial arts, etc.

Since the first International Tea Festival was held in Thai Nguyen in 2011, the annual Tea Festival has been named “Spring Tea Fragrance - Tan Cuong Special Tea Region” and is scheduled to be held on January 11. The festival has featured many unique activities, such as tea making demonstrations and tea serving. Gradually, this cultural activity has been expanded to other tea regions in the province, becoming a unique cultural feature of Thai Nguyen province.

The highlight of the festival is the tea making and tea serving performance. It must be said that it is meticulous, elaborate, and extremely sophisticated. It is not only a drink, but also a cultural product of the midland region, a unique cultural feature that cannot be mixed and is not easily imitated or experimented with. In the cultural activity imbued with the region, the story of the Canh Hac tea product of the tea growing and processing facility of Mr. Doi Nam, participating in the Fair in Hanoi, winning the First Prize in 1935, has come back... as if to enrich the tradition and skills of growing and processing tea in Thai Nguyen.

Being passionate about Thai tea, starting from such delicate activities. Suddenly I realized that your province is doing tourism, elevating tourism products so skillfully, so methodically.

Thai Nguyen tea products are increasingly asserting their position in demanding markets.

The way to promote and develop Thai Nguyen tea products is also very different. Almost every restaurant, hotel, entertainment area… has booths displaying the products. The designs and quality are also very eye-catching, diverse, suitable for customers’ budgets.

In the strategy of bringing tea trees and tea products far and wide; Thai Nguyen has its own way to elevate the status of “The First Famous Tea”. Thai Nguyen people are hospitable and sincere. In their conversations with visitors from all over the world, they have devoted all their pride, enthusiasm, and aspiration to talking about tea. And that enthusiasm, we encountered in the invitation of the female officer of the Thai Nguyen Province Tourism Investment Promotion Center, in the meticulous introduction, nurturing a great aspiration of many mountain women in the Hao Dat tea area, Tan Cuong commune that we met.

Along with the collective trademark “Thai Nguyen Tea” and the geographical indication “Tan Cuong”, many tea products in specialty tea regions such as: La Bang, Dai Tu, Trai Cai, Vo Tranh, Tuc Tranh, Pho Yen... have been granted collective trademark protection by the Department of Intellectual Property; “Phu Luong Tea”, “Vo Nhai Tea” have been granted certified trademarks. Currently, 186 tea producing organizations and individuals have been granted the right to use the collective trademark “Thai Nguyen Tea”; 57 organizations and individuals have been granted intellectual property rights for the geographical indication “Tan Cuong”...

Understanding more about tea, Thai Nguyen tea, makes us appreciate and love the people and soil of a land more. In the salty and bitter taste of tea, there is an aspiration to grow tea trees and raise the level of tea products. That aspiration is no longer only of each resident of the midlands, but also of the whole Thai Nguyen province; like the way the province did in the early days of building the largest iron and steel factory in the North since the 60s of the last century.

In any business, as long as there is a right development direction, along with dedication, patience and concern… then the destination of success is not too far away. With tea trees, tea products in Thai Nguyen can also be understood in the same way.

Invitation from Thai Nguyen...

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/dam-say-che-thai-1742977973998.htm