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| Local roots: Ancient tea trees in Suoi Giang, Van Chan District. — VNA/VNS Photos Tuan Anh |
Viet Nam News
The Mong ethnic minority group in Van Chan District, the northern province of Yen Bai, has long made a living from local tea trees.
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| Fired up: Fresh tea leaves are dried in huge woks. |
Shan Tuyet tea has large, light grey leaves. One side of the leaf is covered with a thin layer of white fur. Locals call it tra tuyet (snow tea).
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| Community event: The ceremony gathers all adults in the village. |
The tea has a sweet fragrance and once brewed the tea water has the colour of honey and tastes special. The tea is processed by hand by the Mong and Dao ethnic minority groups.
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| Hand-picked: After the ceremony, locals join in a tea picking contest. |
The ancient tea trees stand on top of a mountain more than 1,000 metres above sea level, covered with clouds all year round. Each tree is a few metres in height with trunks a few metres in diameters. The climate and special soil conditions create a unique taste. The trees are grown naturally, without using any fertiliser.
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| Respect: A shaman at the worship ceremony. |
Every year, in October or around the New Year, local people organise a worship ceremony to thank the heavens, the land and the ancient tea trees, which have brought a steady income for them.
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| Work and play: Young people join in a banh day (sticky rice cake) making contest. |
Everyone gathers to prepare for the ceremony. Various contests involving tea processing are organised as well as folk games and local delicacies. — VNS
OVietnam