The art of Vietnamese tea

(Entry to the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 2nd time, 2024 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Nghệ thuật thưởng trà Việt- Ảnh 1. — Tea trees in the Long Dinh Tea Cultural Space

Tea tasting is an art, the art of sophistication. Not to mention, just choosing a tea set is enough to see how... difficult it is.

The teapot must be made of liver-colored clay. Regardless of size, thickness, or thinness, look at each way of enjoying tea: drinking alone (1 person), drinking together (2 people), drinking together (4 people) to choose the appropriate teapot.

The tea set also includes 4 cups and 1 bowl. The bowl is used to hold tea. The 4 cups are used for enjoying tea. They are small cups shaped like a buffalo's eye.

Nghệ thuật thưởng trà Việt- Ảnh 2. — Tea set

Dew condensing on lotus leaves makes the most standard tea. The water used to make tea must be boiling enough, but not too hot, or it will become bubbling water. Because bubbling water will take away all the oxygen in it. Brewing with bubbling water, the tea will not only lose its aroma, but also its color, tone, energy, and spirit.

The time to enjoy tea is usually from 4 to 5 o'clock, or on cool, breezy nights. Enjoying tea at that time, the drinker always keeps a clear mind, the body and mind are often peaceful. Of course, the space to enjoy tea must also be a quiet, pure, elegant space.

Nghệ thuật thưởng trà Việt- Ảnh 3. — Make tea

Color, sound, breath, taste and spirit - 5 criteria to judge good or bad tea. Moc Moc Cau tea has always been considered by many tea connoisseurs to be the top tea in terms of color, sound, breath, taste and spirit. However, some people say that lotus tea is the most precious tea.

Being flexible is part of the Vietnamese personality, more or less reflected in the ways of enjoying tea: from rustic and simple to elegant and polite.