Sustainable development of Shan Tuyet tea, creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities

Growing mainly in the northwest and northeast regions of Vietnam, in recent years, this tree has been considered a livelihood tree for ethnic people in the area.

Lao Cai has identified tea and tea products, especially Shan Tuyet tea, as the key product line bringing sustainable livelihoods to local ethnic people.

Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea area, Van Chan commune, Yen Bai (now Van Chan commune, Lao Cai province) is recognized as a heritage tea area.

Shan Tuyet tea - treasure in the northern mountains and forests

Tea connoisseurs cannot help but know the famous ancient tea trees of Ta Thanh, Muong Khuong, Lao Cai (now Cao Son, Lao Cai). In this land, ancient tea trees hundreds of years old still cling to the mountainside, cherishing every source of nutrition from this land and absorbing the water from the stream every day, creating unique tea buds, rich sweetness and unmistakable aroma.

The ancient tea trees are hundreds of years old, some of them up to tens of meters high. To get delicious tea buds, people have to climb the trees to pick them. The Mong people here have also realized the value, and are currently constantly caring for, preserving and harvesting each crop, gradually providing tea processing factories with a source of super clean, safe, and nutritious raw materials for health...

We must also mention Suoi Giang, Van Chan, Yen Bai (now Van Chan, Lao Cai), known as the land of Shan Tuyet tea in the middle of the jungle with ancient Shan Tuyet tea forests hundreds of years old - a precious natural heritage. In Suoi Giang, there are more than 500 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea forests, many of which are over 300 years old. The tree trunks are large, the branches are rough, covered with moss, preserving the spiritual energy of the mountains and forests.

The hundreds of years old tea trees are up to tens of meters high. Mong people have to climb the trees to pick the delicious tea buds if they want to get them.

More than 90% of households of the three ethnic groups Kinh, Dao, Thai in Nam Bung commune, Van Chan district, Yen Bai province (now Gia Hoi commune, Lao Cai province) grow tea. The midland tea trees were planted in 1968, after more than 30 years they have become old, no longer suitable for the soil, the price is only about 3,000 VND/kg, so Yen Bai province (old) has put shan tuyet tea trees into mass planting, with a planting density of 16,000 trees/ha, creating new opportunities for tea growers. People's income ranges from 6-8 million VND/person/month from shan tuyet tea trees.

The local tea development project for the 2016-2020 period mentioned focusing on planting nearly 3,400 hectares of tea in mountainous districts, including 800 hectares of high-density Shan Tuyet tea with 16,000 pots/ha in Gia Hoi and Nam Bung communes (Van Chan, Yen Bai), now Gia Hoi and Van Chan (Lao Cai); at the same time, developing Shan Tuyet tea areas in Suoi Giang, Phinh Ho, Suoi Bu, Sung Do, Nam Muoi districts... and linking them with eco -tourism .

Furthermore, to develop sustainable tea plants, in 2024, Yen Bai (old) and Lao Cai (new) have also improved the quality of tea plants with VietGAP standards, organic tea certification, 4-star OCOP product certification for 10 products, 3-star OCOP for eight products. Shan Tuyet tea products are granted the geographical indication "Suoi Giang Van Chan" for 5 units.

Many tea brands have been successfully built.

In recent times, the development of key crops in general, especially the development of tea trees associated with processing and product consumption areas, has opened up opportunities to help increase the value of agricultural products, strongly develop clean products, products of high quality origin and create links between production areas; thereby building the brand of goods of each locality, contributing to increasing income and improving the quality of life of farmers.

Finished Shan Tuyet tea.

In particular, localities including Lao Cai are developing and restoring ancient tea varieties in the area to increase the value of tea growing areas; promoting and introducing products so that more and more people know and trust them, creating a stable consumption market, helping people here have higher income from ancient tea trees.

Recently, on the market, there is another product called Dragon Tea Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea made in Vietnam, affirming the value of tea and helping local people increase their income. Sharing with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Dr. Nguyen Cong Han, the founder, said that originating from a unique ancient tea gene source and a national biological asset that has been and is being protected, the place known as the "ancestor of ancient tea trees", Dragon Tea Suoi Giang is a tea product produced in a "unique" direction, with a distinct identity.

With Shan Tuyet tea ingredients from the peak of Suoi Giang, Dragon Tea Suoi Giang is one of the four key brands of HYH Group, founded by Dr. Nguyen Cong Han. With a foundation of development from medicine, HYH Group is constantly expanding its influence in the fields of health care, including the medicinal herb Shan Tuyet tea from ancient Suoi Giang trees.

One of many ancient local tea trees.

Not only is it a tea brand, but it also creates a livelihood that contributes to the socio-economic development of Suoi Giang (Van Chan commune, Lao Cai province). Dragon Tea Suoi Giang's product lines include: royal tea, black tea, white tea, and jade tea originating from "the ancestral tea of ​​Suoi Giang - the crystallization of the spiritual energy of the mountains and forests". All are certified by the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene.

Sharing with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Dr. Nguyen Cong Han, founder, said that originating from a unique ancient tea gene source and a national biological asset that has been and is being protected, the place known as the "ancestor of ancient tea trees", Dragon Tea Suoi Giang is a tea product produced in a "unique, distinct identity" direction.

With Shan Tuyet tea ingredients from the peak of Suoi Giang, Dragon Tea Suoi Giang is one of the four key brands of HYH Group, founded by Dr. Nguyen Cong Han. With a foundation of development from medicine, HYH Group is constantly expanding its influence in the fields of health care, including the medicinal herb Shan Tuyet tea from ancient Suoi Giang trees.

Not only is it a tea brand, but it also creates a livelihood that contributes to the socio-economic development of Suoi Giang (Van Chan commune, Lao Cai province). Dragon Tea Suoi Giang's product lines include: royal tea, black tea, white tea, and jade tea originating from "the ancestral tea of ​​Suoi Giang - the crystallization of the spiritual energy of the mountains and forests". All are certified by the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene.

Doctor Nguyen Cong Han, founder of Dragon Tea Suoi Giang brand.

For more information, the former Party Secretary of Suoi Giang Commune, Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province (formerly) Giang A Dang informed that the Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea area, Van Chan Commune, Yen Bai (now Van Chan Commune, Lao Cai Province) was recognized as a heritage tea area and was recognized as a Vietnam Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment in 2016. In recent years, thanks to the ancient Shan Tuyet tea tree, the lives of local people have improved and become better and better.

Talking to us, comrade Hoang Thi Hue, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Van Chan commune, Lao Cai province, emphasized that the tea growing area of ​​Van Chan not only has economic value but also historical, cultural and tourism significance, contributing significantly to the conservation and sustainable development of the locality.

There, each tea bud carries the unique flavor of the Northwest mountains and forests, while also carrying the business's responsibility for public health, preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities, protecting and building a green environment, and adapting to climate change.

Tea buds on high mountains are transported by drone to the factory at the foot of the mountain.

According to the Standing Deputy Secretary, the locality is currently coordinating with Dragon Tea Suoi Giang Joint Stock Company to effectively exploit ancient tea forests, assigning local people to manage each tea tree and having a coordinated program to protect and expand the Shan Tuyet tea gene source in the area, effectively meeting the requirements of sustainable development.

According to comrade Hoang Thi Hue, local authorities and businesses are actively strengthening links, coordination, and production of tea products from local raw material areas according to the standards of the United States, Germany, and Australia, meeting the requirements of domestic and foreign consumers. Notably, the three product lines of royal tea, black tea, and white tea are in the implementation plan for consideration and recognition of 5-star OCOP products.

nhandan.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/phat-trien-ben-vung-che-shan-tuyet-tao-dung-sinh-ke-cho-ba-con-dan-toc-thieu-so-post880463.html