Tan Cuong tea – A famous specialty of Thai Nguyen province

Tan Cuong tea is popular among many domestic consumers. It is becoming a nationally recognized brand available in stores and supermarkets across the country.

Traveling about 10 kilometers southwest from Thai Nguyen City, you’ll arrive at the tea capital. The Tan Cuong tea specialty region spans over 1,300 hectares. It encompasses six communes: Tan Cuong, Phuc Truu, Phuc Xuan, Thinh Duc, Quyet Thang, and Phuc Ha. Among them, Tan Cuong is the “core” area within Thai Nguyen City, officially granted a geographical indication certificate.

This region features gently rolling hills, fertile soil, and a clean natural environment. The tea grown here benefits from ideal terrain, soil, and climate. As a result, it has a naturally mild aroma, a pleasantly light bitterness, golden liquor, and a uniquely lingering sweet aftertaste.

Tan Cuong is one of the largest tea-producing regions in the mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam. A visit to Tan Cuong Tea Hills reveals the remarkable transformation of this area. I was overwhelmed by the vast green tea fields stretching endlessly.

Truly, “seeing is believing” – come here once and you’ll feel the beauty of this land. In the crisp winter sunlight, on both sides of the road, I felt as though I were wandering through a green forest. Tea plants cover the land in every direction.

The tea rows are neatly planted and visually pleasing. Visitors to the Tan Cuong’s tea gardens can enjoy both sightseeing and on-site tea tasting. Local farmers busily harvest tea, traders bargain animatedly, and tourists laugh and chat while exploring. Trucks constantly come and go to collect tea for distribution, creating a lively scene. This vibrant atmosphere has earned Tan Cuong the nickname “Tea Street” among visitors.

The tea harvest season is when Tan Cuong is at its most beautiful and distinctive. No matter where you stand in Tan Cuong, lush green tea gardens are always in sight. The homeland is blossoming with development. The morning chill here brings with it a pure and serene feeling.

A truly enchanting scene unfolds: the emerald hills of Tan Cuong tea fields blanketed in wispy white fog, reminiscent of a fairytale paradise. Winding roads curve around the hills, and scattered houses peek out from behind rows of trees.

The most delightful experience is weaving through the tea bushes to “pick directly from the plant.” Visitors can handpick tender tea buds still glistening with morning dew. Many cannot resist capturing this picturesque moment to share on Facebook. The scenery is so breathtaking that young couples walk hand-in-hand. This creates romantic scenes straight out of a movie.

Many choose Tan Cuong’s tea hills as the backdrop for their wedding photo albums. The vibrant green of the tea fields creates a perfect natural background for any photo. Visitors flock here to “check in” and snap beautiful photos among the picture-perfect landscape.

Coming here, you can hear tour guides enthusiastically share the century-old story of tea in this “land of the finest teas.” They introduce guests to the art of tea-making. Local women, acting as tea artisans, demonstrate how to brew a perfect pot of tea and guide visitors in proper tea tasting etiquette.

Guests often bring home high-quality tea as gifts for loved ones. These gifts are a reminder of their short but meaningful time spent living, working, and enjoying life with the warm and hospitable people of Tan Cuong.

Visiting Tan Cuong Tea Hills is also an opportunity to explore the land, culture, and kind-hearted people of Thai Nguyen. They welcome guests with sincere affection and cups of tea infused with the warmth of the countryside. This creates beautiful memories for those who come to experience a different way of life, even if just for a short while.

As I bid farewell to Tan Cuong Tea Hills, I did not forget to buy some of the famous tea as a gift for my loved ones. Today, Tan Cuong tea continues to grow in popularity, recognized as a national brand, and is widely available throughout the market. The people of Thai Nguyen are proud that the Tan Cuong tea brand is gaining more and more recognition.

Thanks to the care and dedication of local farmers, Tan Cuong tea boasts a unique flavor that cannot be matched elsewhere. Most of the tea hills here are now cultivated under the Vietgap model. Instead of organic fertilizers, farmers use mineral fertilizers to preserve the natural fertility of the soil. Chemical pesticides have been nearly eliminated and replaced with bio-based alternatives.

Many enterprises in the area have received OCOP (One Commune One Product) certification. For example, Hao Dat Tea is a well-known brand in Thai Nguyen and an attractive destination for tourists. Notably, Hao Dat Cooperative has two OCOP 4-star rated products: Hook Tea and Needle Tea, while its Bud Tea achieved the highest OCOP 5-star rating on June 30, 2021.

Hao Dat Tea Cooperative, located in Thai Nguyen City, was established in December 2016. It included eight founding members and over 50 affiliated households supplying raw tea. Under the leadership of Ms. Hao, the cooperative has focused on applying technical advances in safe tea production under Vietgap standards. This ensures high-quality raw tea input and meets food safety criteria.

As of now, Hao Dat Tea Cooperative has over 30 members, managing more than 10 hectares of tea fields. Their production facility spans over 2,000 square meters with a semi-automated processing line. It is capable of handling 4.0–4.5 tons of fresh tea buds per day.

Annually, the cooperative processes around 1,500 tons of fresh tea buds, yielding 250–350 tons of high-quality dried tea. Key products include Needle Tea, Bud Tea, Hook Tea, and Bat Tien Tea, priced from 250,000 VND to 2,500,000 VND per kilogram.

In addition to supplying premium tea domestically, Hao Dat Tea has successfully exported to demanding markets. The cooperative’s annual revenue consistently grows, averaging 5–6 billion VND, with profits of 1.5–2 billion VND. It provides regular employment for 20–30 workers with an average monthly income of 4.5–6.0 million VND per person. In addition, it hires 30 seasonal workers under negotiated contracts.

In 2021, Hao Dat Cooperative expanded production and launched an ecotourism program. Visitors can experience the peaceful atmosphere of the Tan Cuong tea region while enjoying freshly brewed tea. They can tour the tea processing factory, marvel at the picturesque tea hills, and learn about tea cultivation and care.

Guests can also immerse themselves in the life of a tea farmer. They can pick tender buds, carry heavy baskets, hand-roast tea, brew tea, package it, and even prepare local dishes like braised fish. The most special moment is sipping a cup of green tea made from leaves you picked yourself. It is slightly bitter at first sip, but quickly followed by a sweet aftertaste that brings immense satisfaction.

In the fast-paced, demanding rhythm of modern life, a hot cup of green tea gently reminds us to slow down. The refreshing sweetness of Tan Cuong tea energizes the soul, helping us start each day with clarity and vitality.

The presence of Tan Cuong tea has greatly contributed to promoting tourism in Thai Nguyen. Visitors from near and far come to Thai Nguyen and bring back Tan Cuong tea as a thoughtful gift. Tan Cuong tea remains delicious and special, and the people of Thai Nguyen continue to be renowned as exceptional tea growers.

Vietnamese source: https://thuonghieusanpham.vn/che-tan-cuong-dac-san-noi-tieng-cua-thai-nguyen-43736.html