Na Hang District in Tuyen Quang is a place not only known for its mysterious attraction of an ecological region with attractive tourist destinations, primeval forests... but also famous for its specialty Shan Tuyet tea. In the remote mountainous areas and forests covered in clouds and cold mist all year round, in Hong Thai Commune (Na Hang District), there are ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees that bring the delicious tea to the world market.

Shan Tuyet tea trees grow naturally in the mountains

Na Hang Shan Tuyet tea is a long-standing and famous product of Na Hang District, Tuyen Quang Province. Tea trees grow naturally or are cultivated extensively at an average altitude of 800 to 1,000 meters above sea level, with a cool climate all year round and an average annual air humidity of 85 percent. The product when processed has a silver-grey black color; and the brewed tea has a bright green color, a mild astringent taste and a clear sweet aftertaste.

Earlier, in 2021, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam under the Ministry of Science and Technology granted Geographical Indication (GI) Registration Certificate No.00104 for Shan Tuyet tea in Na Hang District, which was the fourth protected GI of Tuyen Quang Province.

Currently, the total area of Shan Tuyet Tea material in Hong Thai commune is 64 hectares, including 29 hectares of tea trees hundreds of years old, 35 hectares of over 25-year-old tea being grown, cared for and harvested by Son Tra Cooperative, Hong Thai Commune, Na Hang District in cooperation with local households.

Dang Ngoc Pho, Director of Son Tra Cooperative, said, “All stages from planting, caring, harvesting, and processing Shan Tuyet Tea of ​​the cooperative follow organic standards, ensuring the three Nos: No pests, no use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, no mixing or seasoning.”

Na Hang Shan Tuyet has a mild astringent taste and a clear sweet aftertaste

With the goal of trading clean tea, Pho invited experts from tea associations to provide technical training and guidance to growers so that tea trees always achieve the highest output. Thanks to innovative thinking and production methods, the Son Tra Shan Tuyet tea brand has made a big splash in the Vietnamese tea industry.

After many years investing in modern machines and mastering the secret of Shan Tuyet tea production, the quality of Son Tra Cooperative's tea has improved. Regarding inputs, Pho selects ancient trees at an average altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level, so that the tea does not taste bitter, but instead has a cool, sweet taste.

The Na Hang Shan Tuyet tea products have now been favored in Tuyen Quang and other markets nearby. In 2020, the cooperative's products won the “Vietnam Agricultural Gold Brand 2020” award.

In 2022, the Shan Tuyet Hong Thai tea products of Son Tra cooperative entered the top 50 famous brands in the Asia-Pacific region, and received the Silver Cup “Organic products for community health” in 2021.

Especially, in October 2023, the cooperative was granted a certificate of growing area code as “Tea growing area eligible for export to the EU market,” mostly thanks to its great efforts, and is also a guarantee for the reputation of the cooperative's brand and products. This is an honor and pride for the cooperative in particular and local Shan Tuyet tea specialties in general, and is a favorable step for Shan Tuyet tea products to reach the world market in the near future.