Tea History in Vietnam

Tea history in Vietnam

You probably know that Vietnam is the sixth largest producer and fifth largest exporter of tea in the world these days.

But have you ever heard that over thousand years old tea trees were found in the northern Vietnamese province of Ha Giang along the Sino-Vietnamese border? Some of the oldest tea trees reach over 18 meters in height in the northern Lang Son mountains.

Have you ever learnt that the Vietnamese tea history had started its journey about two thousand years ago? Some researchers claim that green tea was grown and consumed as tea in Vietnam before reaching China.

Did you know that green tea was consumed by the rulers and priests as a medicine? It was considered a healing drink that removes fatigue and gives strength. Fresh tea leaves were taken from trees in the forest, then boiled and enjoyed as a hot drink. Also, tea leaves were used as part of all kinds of medicinal ointments. The peak of the fashion for tea in the circles of Vietnamese aristocrats fell on the V-VI century. The tee tree started to be actively cultivated, and green tea became a most popular drink among all people in Vietnam. Since then tea has become an essential part of daily life for Vietnamese culture.

Although tea was enjoyed in Vietnam for centuries, there were only relatively small volumes produced for consumption within the county. By the tenth century Vietnamese tea was exported in a small amount. Frequent fogs and a temperate climate produced the most famous of Vietnamese tea which was served to the Chinese emperors. This high-quality tea with a special aroma was not sold in the markets ... but many wanted to keep a little secret for themselves, even despite the possible severe punishment.

Situation has changed in 1880s, when French colonists established the first Vietnamese tea plantations in the area around Pho Tho, northwest of Hanoi. This was the first step in the development of the tea industry in Vietnam. Today over 80 thousand hectares of land in Vietnam are used for tea plantations.

Did you know that according to the Import and Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Vietnam (Viet Nam) exported 120,000 tonnes of tea in 2018?

Among the main export markets of Vietnamese tea in 2018: Pakistan is the largest, Taiwan ranked second followed by Russia and China. In addition, Vietnamese tea products are also exported to markets such as USA, Poland, India, Germany, Turkey, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.