Shanam Tea: The Pride of the Hmong People

The ancient tea trees in the high mountains are not only a valuable source of raw materials but also an indispensable part of the cultural life of the ethnic people here. Shanam tea, made by the Hmong people, is one such product.

At the annual Táo Marcom event, held in February – a leading annual event in the Marketing and Communication industry – Shanam tea was chosen to connect with Vietnamese tea-drinking culture through the exquisite flavor of ancient Shan Tuyet tea.

At the Shanam Tea Table, attendees had the opportunity to experience cups of ancient Shan Tuyet Cloud White Tea – a unique product from the mountains of Northwest Vietnam. This is not just a beverage, but also a cultural bridge, carrying the story of centuries-old tea trees.

In particular, when guests enjoy the tea, they will listen to the story behind each tea bud, understanding the meticulous effort and dedication of the tea makers. They will be surprised to learn that the tea buds they are enjoying are hand-picked from ancient tea trees hundreds of years old, at an altitude of over 1,500 meters. Through this, they not only experience the flavor but also understand and appreciate the values ​​that Shanam Tea aims to convey.

The ancient tea buds of Ta Xua are the raw material for the famous Shanam tea (Photo: TAFOOD)

Not only was it popular at this event, but exactly five years ago, Shanam tea also received several prestigious awards. Specifically, Shanam's White Tea (Tian) product won the Asia-Pacific Silver Award in China. Just a few months later, the Tea Epicure organization (USA) ranked Shanam tea at the top of its list of the world's best green teas with a near-perfect score of 94/100.

This recognition is the sweet fruit of the tireless efforts of Tay Bac Tea and Specialty Products Company Limited (TAFOOD) - Ta Xua commune, Bac Yen district.Son La province, the owner of the Shanam tea brand. They not only elevate the value of Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea, but also contribute to preserving centuries-old tea trees and maintaining the livelihoods of the local people.Hmong ethnic groupLocal people – those who have helped preserve these centuries-old tea trees.

Tea buds embody the essence of tea.

Shanam tea is grown in the Ta Xua mountain region, Bac Yen district, Son La province, located on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range at an average altitude of 2,000-2,800m above sea level. The climate here is a perfect combination of sunshine and humidity, creating ideal conditions for the tea plants to thrive naturally.

Shanam tea is grown in the Ta Xua mountain region, Bac Yen district, Son La province (Photo: TAFOOD)

Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea possesses unique characteristics: the tea buds are grayish-white, with a powdery coating on the surface resembling snow. This is a distinctive feature of ancient Shan Tuyet tea, protecting the buds from pests and harsh weather. The tea plants often freeze completely in winter, then begin to sprout again in spring. The name "Shan Tuyet" (Snow Shan) also originates from this characteristic.

Not only is it different in appearance, Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea also has a unique flavor. When brewed, the tea has a golden yellow color, a gentle astringency, a deep, lingering sweetness on the tongue. It is this subtlety in each sip that has made Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea highly valued by tea connoisseurs both domestically and internationally.

Despite its potential, TAFOOD faced many difficulties when it first arrived in Ta Xua. Previously, the Hmong people there only harvested tea using traditional methods, disregarding technical standards such as "one bud, two leaves." They also processed the tea using wood fires, resulting in suboptimal tea quality.

Ms. Pham Thi Viet Ha, Deputy Director of Tay Bac Tea and Specialty Company Limited, said that to produce Shanam tea, TAFOOD worked with ethnic minority people from the very beginning. Every beginning is difficult. In the early days, despite trying hard to persuade them that if they harvested using the correct technique of "one bud and two leaves," Shan Tuyet tea would truly be a golden-green or golden-white color, the people didn't recognize the gold and continued to harvest as they had always done, picking the buds as they appeared. Changing perceptions and farming practices was not easy in a place where most people were illiterate, many girls as young as 13 or 14 were already mothers, hunger was a constant threat, and they relied solely on harvesting the tea buds to sell immediately, lacking the patience to wait for the "one bud and two leaves" stage.

To obtain high-quality raw materials for consumers, TAFOOD has taken strategic steps to change farming practices. Specifically, the company increased the purchase price of fresh tea leaves from 20,000 VND/kg to 40,000 VND/kg to encourage farmers to harvest tea properly and sell it to the company. In addition, they guided farmers on proper tea harvesting techniques and supported their participation in the Ta Xua Tea Cooperative and invested in a tea processing factory right in the locality. Through this hands-on guidance, the Mong ethnic minority people have clearly seen the value of Shan Tuyet tea and increasingly appreciate this plant. Tea cultivation not only provides them with a stable income but also contributes to protecting natural forests and preserving a sustainable ecosystem.

When the Shanam brand launched in December 2017, participating in trade fairs and exhibitions, tea producers even had to hold up photos to tell customers how the tea was produced from ancient tea trees. They even had to promote the tea trees first, then let customers sample the tea before promoting the product.

However, today, thanks to the combined efforts of the media and local authorities, Shanam has positioned itself as a high-quality Shan tea brand suitable for a wide range of target groups and markets. For example, products for the elderly to prevent insomnia; products for parents and children; and products for grandmothers…

In particular, besides traditional tea, TAFOOD has also pioneered the production of Shanam pressed tea cakes, a novel and unique product line that has brought many cultural and economic values ​​to the locality in recent years.

Combining tea production and tourism.

To enhance the value of tea products, since 2021, TAFOOD has developed the "Ta Xua Specialty Tea Production and Business Complex" combined with tea tourism. Visitors can not only admire the beauty of the ancient tea hills but also pick tea leaves themselves and experience traditional tea processing.

Tea lovers visiting Ta Xua have the opportunity to learn more about the tea-making process (Photo: TAFOOD)

Tea lovers visiting Ta Xua have the opportunity to learn more about the tea-making process, from harvesting and processing to packaging. This is not only an interesting experience but also helps raise community awareness of the value of Shan Tuyet tea.

Furthermore, the development of tea tourism creates new economic opportunities for the locality. People earn income not only from selling tea but also from tourism services such as homestays, tour guiding, and local cuisine. Thanks to the combination of production and cultural experiences, the Shanam tea brand is increasingly establishing itself firmly in both domestic and international markets.

Looking to the future, TAFOOD continues to expand its production scale and develop new product lines such as compressed tea cakes and fermented tea to meet the diverse tastes of consumers. At the same time, the company is boosting exports of Shanam tea to international markets, creating opportunities to promote Vietnamese tea on the world map.

Furthermore, one of TAFOOD's key strategies is to enhance brand value through quality certification. The company is pursuing international standards such as EU Organic, USDA, and Japan JAS to build strong trust with global consumers. In addition, product research and development is also a priority.

It can be said that Shanam tea is not just a simple agricultural product, but also a symbol of the culture and spirit of the Hmong people in the Northwest highlands. The ancient Shan Tuyet tea buds from Ta Xua are the culmination of nature and human effort, steadily progressing on a journey to conquer new heights.

The preservation and development of Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea not only contributes to maintaining a precious natural heritage but also brings sustainable economic value to the local community. In the future, with the support of businesses like TAFOOD and the love of tea enthusiasts, Shan Tuyet tea will reach even further, spreading the flavor of Vietnamese tea across the globe.

In addition to traditional tea lines, Shanam is experimenting with innovative tea products such as blended herbal teas and convenient tea bags to reach younger and busier customers.

Source: congthuong.vn