Through thousands of years of growing and drinking tea, Vietnamese people have built a tea culture that is both diverse and unique. Tea drinking has become an essential part of daily life.
Tee trees have been grown from the midlands to the high mountains, from the Northern to Central Highlands of Vietnam. Vietnamese people have created many types of tea. In every area, you can find many unique types of tea that are representative of the region. Thus you can experience many different interesting tastes and names.
Here are the top 9 most famous and popular Vietnamese tea types and their names in Vietnamese that tea connoisseurs must try at least once.
Contents
1. Vietnamese loose tea types
1.1. Green tea (Trà xanh)
Vietnamese green tea is mainly made by the pan-fried technique. Thus, the green tea has a signature strong taste with a light bitter but sweet taste at your end of the tongue after a tea sip.
It is different from Japanese green tea that is made under steaming technology, or Taiwan green tea is processed by semi-fermented oolong type.
Vietnamese green tea connoisseurs will recognize the uniquely rich taste and fresh aroma of the refreshing tea lot.
Neither having a grassy color like the Japanese green tea nor pale yellow like Chinese tea, traditional Vietnamese green tea has a golden color like honey, especially Tan Cuong tea of the Thai Nguyen tea region.
Green tea cultivated in high mountain areas such as Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, or Lam Dong provinces has the lighter and purer taste of high-grown tea, and the watercolor tends to be lighter. Sometimes, drinkers will feel the smell of baked aroma in a sip of Vietnamese tea because of the typical drying technique.
1.2. Black tea (Trà đen)
Vietnam has developed to cultivate tea widely since the 1880s under the French colonial regime. The quality of tea buds grown in suitable soil, climate, production, and cultivation has increased constantly. More than 60% of Vietnam’s annual tea output is black tea.
Vietnamese black tea (also named as “Trà đen” in Vietnamese) has a bold color and a very distinctive taste. Although its taste is not equal to the world’s No.1 black tea originating from Sri Lanka, it is highly appreciated by many professional tea producers.
You will get the perfect recipe if you choose the Vietnamese black tea to mix with other teas from Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia. The mixtures will be perfect because the types will have a stronger taste of those teas and a dark red color of Vietnamese tea. Almost all of the world’s leading brands, such as Akbar, Twinings, Lupicia, Orimi, etc. choose Vietnamese black tea in their successful and innovative blends.
1.3. Oolong tea (Trà Ô Long)
Vietnamese name of oolong tea is almost similar to English one: Ô Long. According to ancient Chinese historical documents, oolong is considered a tea variety originating from 3 provinces located in the southeast of China: Fujian, Guangdong & Taiwan island.
There are four typical oolong teas divided by growing area and processing method:
- North Fujian Oolong: The leaf is slightly twisted like the ribbon form with dark-brown or black. Its taste is quite strong with the red color and the floral scent
- South Fujian Oolong (also called TieGuanYin): The tea’s characteristics are a dark brew and deep taste because of the heavy roast technique.
- The Guangdong Oolong: The tea has a wild aroma, an astringent taste at the tip of the tongue, and then it is a sweet aftertaste. If you drink the oolong type too much, you could get poisoned and see hallucinations.
- Taiwan Oolong: Taiwan has rolled balls shaped which have more shades of taste. Its aroma is much more versatile and deep. The tea color lasts longer.
For Vietnamese oolong tea, it is almost similar to Taiwanese Oolong because of the cultivation technique. The tea varieties and brewing process is heavily influenced by Taiwanese tea.
Vietnamese people have cultivated oolong tea in Lamdong highland where is at 800-1500 meters above sea level. That makes the taste of Vietnamese oolong tea no less competitive. Additionally, Lam Dong highland has high-quality clean soil with good terroir for growing tea.
According to the Vietnam export custom report, 80% of Vietnamese Oolong export volume is for Taiwan.
2. Vietnamese scented tea types
Vietnamese scented tea has become popular not only in Vietnam but also around the globe. The world knows about Earl Grey tea with bergamot flavoring. However, if you are looking for something new in a cup of tea, let us introduce you to a new, unique and attractive flavored tea line. In Vietnam, people are very attracted to tea scented by the flavor of fruits, such as lychee, cinnamon, peach, strawberry, etc.
2.1. Lotus tea (Trà sen)
Lotus tea is considered as a representative of Vietnamese tea culture, contributing to the world tea culture many philosophies of life, sophistication and values of Zen Buddhism.
The way to make Vietnamese tea is complicated because green tea buds are carefully selected. They are and kept waiting for a hundred days in an earthen pot or on banana leaf incubation to reduce the bitterness, reduce the smell of tea and let the tea petals swell to absorb the most lotus flavor because the lotus flavor is very light. A pound of lotus-scented tea requires 1000-1400 lotus flowers.
Read more: Buying the best Vietnamese lotus tea easily at FGC
2.2. Jasmine Tea (Trà nhài)
Vietnamese jasmine tea is known as a blend of green tea and jasmine flowers. Tea has many health benefits, such as reducing stress, fighting cancer, losing weight, reducing cholesterol, etc.
The combination of Vietnamese green tea with Vietnamese jasmine flowers can help drinkers feel the freshness of the tea leaves with the scent of flowers.
3. Vietnamese herbal tea types
3.1. Artichoke Tea (Trà Atiso)
Artichoke had been introduced to Vietnam by the French for hundreds of years. The plant often grew in temperate climates such as Da Lat, Quan Ba, Sapa, Lao Cai, Tam Dao. Until now, artichokes have been planted in many places, including in lowland areas like Hai Duong. However, the priority plant area is in Da Lat.
Artichokes are scientifically proven to benefit blood sugar health, improve digestion, heart health, and liver health. Therefore, we want to bring the healthy product which is planted in Vietnam to serve you.
However, the taste of artichoke is too harsh for most people. Thus, our R&D team has researched and come up with a recipe of green tea mixed with artichoke flowers and a few other beneficial herbs.
Click here for more information about Vietnamese artichoke tea!
3.2. Bitter Melon Tea (Trà khổ qua)
Bitter melon tea is also named as “Trà mướp đăng” in Vietnamese. We use bitter melon to make tea because of its better medicinal properties. The Vietnamese trust that hybrid varieties by humans cannot bring out all the best that the Creator offers. Therefore, we tend to bring to our customers the most naturally cultivated products on our land.
As the name implies, the taste of bitter melon is bitter. Our R&D team has researched and delicately created a recipe for Vietnamese green tea mixed with bitter melon.
Read more: Top 9 most popular Vietnamese fruit teas
3.3. Chamomile tea (Trà hoa cúc)
Recently many well-known brands have introduced chamomile tea lines to the market, such as Twinings, Ahmad, Lipton, Messmer, Celestial, etc. A lot of consumers in the world welcome the tea. Chamomile tea is a popular tea from East to West with the best-known benefits of reducing stress, preventing cancer, reducing inflammation, reducing menstrual pain, etc.
Vietnamese chamomile flower is a Taiwanese variety with bright yellow color and a pleasant pungent smell. Flowers are dried in direct sunlight to absorb the sun’s energy to promote the full of its medicinal properties.
Click here to find out more about Vietnamese chamomile tea and buy it with the reasonable price.
Here are the most common Vietnamese tea types We hope to give you a different perspective on the uniqueness of Vietnamese teas and understand more about the tea culture of the Vietnamese.
If you want to import Vietnamese tea leaves, clikc here: Vietnamese tea leaves – Characteristics, price, and top-tier supplier
For any of these tea types mentioned above, FGC can supply you with any packaging types such as tea bags, loose packing, or even RTD.
However, among many other exporters, why choose us?
4. Why should you choose FGC’s tea products?
Established in 1996, we are known as the most professional & experienced manufacturer in the Vietnam tea industry with an annual export volume exceeding 15 thousand tons to over 60 countries worldwide.
When you cooperate with us, you have a wide choice of Vietnamese tea types, quality & added values for your brand. Our R&D team will accompany you to make the unique & most satisfying blending methods for your private labels. Our logistic teams will assist you in design, searching for the best packaging materials for your perfect label’s look.
FGC has a supplying chain from all tea farms throughout Vietnam where we collect the freshest tea buds such as Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Moc Chau, Ha Giang, and Lam Dong provinces to serve & introduce you all the most typical and quality of Vietnamese tea types. Our modern tea machines & processing line will give you the best packaging quality.
If you are ready to create a sustainable tea brand and become your market leader, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@vietnam-tea.com or directly through me.
Author: Ms.Jennie – Sales Executive (phuongtran@vietnam-tea.com)
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