Tea History Museum

Tran Cong Danh - the young owner of Tra Su Quan in the museum grounds - Photo: L.D.L.

There, the finance master's student not only did business but also became a destination to introduce Vietnamese culture and tea to tourists. Danh laughed:

- For Vietnamese people, tea is no longer too strange, if not very popular. I have been attached to tea since I was very young in family life, so I have the habit of drinking tea every day, iced tea for example.

Having the opportunity to visit many tea regions across the country, mountainous areas where the traces of tea trees and the history of Vietnamese tea are preserved, I am grateful and appreciate the cultural traditions of my ancestors. I want to do something to contribute to spreading the good values ​​of tea.

TRAN CONG DANH

Fate with tea

* Having studied in the West, Danh is quite young but chooses tea as a companion, seems a bit surprising, right?

- People who don't know will definitely be surprised. Because tea has become a part of me, wherever I go, I still carry many memories of tea with me. Gradually, over time and through experiences, I have discovered more about the world of tea, enjoyed relaxing moments while drinking tea, and proactively chosen tea to enjoy life.

Tea is an old and popular drink in the world, so in any culture, there are activities and forms of drinking tea. Some Western countries have a very unique tea drinking culture, no less famous than the British afternoon tea, the French aristocratic tea... Personally, I am aware that coming to tea is like entering a vast cultural world, not limited by any age limit or range.

* What brought you to tea?

- Actually, tea has been in my subconscious since I was a little kid. But the story is that by chance I came across a Vietnamese tea shop during my time studying in France about ten years ago. That shop was called Salon thé de Mademoiselle Thi (Miss Thi's Tea Shop).

As a student far from home and family, it was the first time I set foot in a shop that felt especially familiar, from the space, the people, to the unique flavors of green tea, jasmine tea, lotus tea... I still come here every time I crave the feeling of home.

Through such times, I got closer to the world of tea, began to explore and understand more about the flavor, origin, and way of enjoying tea that Vietnamese people have preserved while living far away from home.

I still kept the habit of drinking tea after returning home, then found people with the same interest through groups, especially meeting many adults and tea masters with a lot of knowledge and experience about tea. Thanks to that, I strengthened my love and gradually turned it into a valuable cultural experience.

Preserving beautiful culture

* What do you think you have gained or lost by being friends with tea these past times?

- It's a bit expensive, time-consuming, and some types of tea are very expensive (laughs). Just kidding, but I don't think I've lost anything. Maybe it's a bit different from other pleasures when drinking tea, which is good for both physical and mental health, and partly improves health with a natural drink like tea.

Personally, tea helps me move towards a peaceful spiritual life. More broadly, I find myself with more fields of activity and more opportunities to connect in the community.

So it is not by chance that I established the Association for Connecting Vietnamese Tea Cultural Heritage (under the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Heritage Association).

To spread this spirit, we have the slogan "Tea connect Us".

The important thing is that I get to do what I like. Tra Su Quan is my way of trying to contribute a small part from my perspective to preserve and spread a good traditional culture and national pride. I hope that Vietnamese tea culture will be clearly shaped on the cultural experience map of tourists coming to Vietnam.

* People still think that drinking tea is a habit of the elderly, at least to contemplate life, enjoy the countryside, does the head of the tea association of the Cultural Heritage Association of Ho Chi Minh City think so?

- It is because most people turn to tea at a certain age. Drinking tea requires quietness and a little time, so it seems less suitable for today's fast-paced youth.

But tea has appeared in every activity of Vietnamese people since ancient times when "a cup of tea opens a conversation" in events such as meetings, family gatherings, village activities, and even Tet and happy occasions in life.

Tea for Vietnamese people is a drink for socializing and sharing, so why should we limit tea to a drink for the elderly or for private moments? I see that tea has great influence.

Drink alone, drink quietly, and when you need to connect and socialize, tea can completely become a catalyst for meetings.

Drink tea to live slowly

Danh said the essence of drinking tea is slowness and stillness. This is true because there is no need to rush, from waiting for the water to boil, to rinsing the teapot, washing the teapot, and then waiting for the tea to come out.

Tea only has its full flavor and aroma when drunk hot, so it needs to be brewed and cannot be made in advance. "You will need time and care for this, so that pressure unintentionally becomes a precious moment for you to calm down, focus and live slowly" - Danh confided.

A date to "have tea sometime", why not!

From his research and experience, Tran Cong Danh said that there are many types of tea with different flavors, not just the bitter and difficult to drink taste like strong tea that many people often hear about. Therefore, as long as you are interested and like it, each of you can rest assured that you can completely find your favorite type of tea.

A tea exchange and sharing session about Vietnamese tea culture at Tra Su Quan with both young Vietnamese people and foreign tourists - Photo: L.D.L.

Tea is an interesting connection, originating from the Vietnamese folk tea culture, so along with "tea ceremony" and "tea meditation", the young owner of Tra Su Quan also initiated the "fun tea" style. "I hope that in the near future, instead of the familiar "let's go for coffee" dating habit among young people, there will be "let's go for tea". There will definitely be a lot of sharing and confiding around a cup of tea" - Danh laughed.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tra-su-quan-o-bao-tang-20240327220602253.htm