Representatives from the Department of Technology Application and Technical Advancement, Ministry of Science and Technology, presented the Certificate of Trademark Registration for Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea to the leaders of Bac Yen district.

When mentioning Ta Xua commune in Bac Yen district, besides its stunning cloud-watching spots, it's also known for its tea harvested from ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees located at an altitude of over 1,800 meters above sea level. Currently, the commune has 300 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea trees already in production, including 200 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in the villages of Be, Ta Xua, and Chung Chinh, aged approximately 200-300 years, recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree cluster. Due to year-round cloud cover, high humidity, and a clean, cool climate, the tea trees here have large buds, and the underside of the tea leaves is covered with a layer of fine, white downy hairs, like snow.

According to the elders in Ta Xua, no one knows exactly when tea plants first appeared, only that the tea here has a distinctive flavor and is good for health, so people brought tea seeds from the forest to plant. Tea plants have been closely associated with the daily life and culture of the Mong ethnic people in the Ta Xua highlands for hundreds of years. The tea processing craft also originated from there. Each year, Ta Xua tea plants yield 3-4 harvests of buds, in February, April, August, and October. When the tea buds are in full bloom, the people harvest them using the two-leaf-one-bud technique to produce high-quality tea.

With the goal of developing a value chain based on the establishment, management, and development of the "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea" certification mark, enhancing competitiveness, creating added value, and increasing income for producers and businesses in the tea value chain in Ta Xua commune, in 2022, the Department of Science and Technology advised the Provincial People's Committee to approve the task of registering protection, building, and implementing a management system for the "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea" certification mark for tea products in Bac Yen district. The task was led by Mr. Le Duc Cong from the Institute of Food Crops.

The team was tasked with advising on the packaging design for Ta Xua tea products.

Mr. Le Duc Cong shared: To develop the "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea" brand, the group has collaborated with the Son La Department of Science and Technology and the Bac Yen District People's Committee to build and protect the certified trademark "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea," with the Bac Yen District People's Committee as the managing and owning agency. In addition, we cooperate with cooperatives to introduce Ta Xua tea products to the Hanoi market, connecting with several sales points in Son La city to promote and introduce the product to consumers.

In 2024, "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea" was granted a trademark registration certificate by the Intellectual Property Office. After the trademark was protected, the People's Committee of Bac Yen district granted the right to use the trademark to organizations and individuals, including: PLA Agricultural and Ethnic Culture Preservation Cooperative; A Chau Agricultural Cooperative; and Song A Denh production household.

The task force has completed the product identification system and developed QR code traceability labels to be issued to establishments and households granted the right to use the National Geographical Indication. Simultaneously, they have supported establishments in displaying and introducing their products at sales points in Ta Xua commune; sales points of the Son La Provincial Cooperative Union; and clean agricultural product introduction points in Hanoi, such as: Happy Mart supermarket system in Ha Dong; and Gia Hung clean food store system in Trung Kinh - Cau Giay.

Harvesting tea in Ta Xua.

Mr. Mua A Lenh, Director of the PLA Agricultural and Ethnic Culture Preservation Cooperative in Ta Xua commune, said: "The cooperative's tea is processed manually by hand, taking about 3-4 hours to produce the finished dried tea product. With this method, the tea pollen is not lost, preserving the distinctive flavor of Ta Xua tea. Participating in this task, cooperative members receive training on brand management and usage; product marketing, negotiation and contract signing; and product promotion and sales on social media. This is the foundation for us to expand production, increase value, and improve the economic efficiency for cooperative members and local people."

Ms. Trinh Thi Phuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Yen District, shared: Being granted trademark protection for "Ta Xua Bac Yen Tea" is an advantage for exploiting, promoting, and selling tea products in conjunction with tourism development. The district has oriented Ta Xua commune to focus on developing tea products linked to ecotourism; encouraging organizations and individuals to develop commercial tea products and exploit the cluster of 200 ancient tea trees as a tourist attraction.

Obtaining trademark protection helps Ta Xua tea products enhance their value and competitiveness in domestic and international markets; at the same time, it promotes the development of local tourism.

Duy Tung