100 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in Dien Bien province, northwestern Vietnam have been recognized by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment as "Vietnamese heritage trees".
The trees, growing in the mountainous areas of Sin Chai commune, Tua Chua district, were assessed based on their heights, foliage diameters, and root circumferences. They all have more than 75 centimeters in stem diameter and are centuries-old.
Tua Chua district has nearly 600 ha of tea, located around 1,400 meters above sea level, with cloud-covered all year. It is home to more than 4,000 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees growing naturally in Ta Phin, Sinh Phinh, Ta Sin Thang and Sin Chai communes.
Shan Tuyet tea is a rare variety that originated in China and grown in Vietnam’s northern mountains. It has large body, and tea leaves grow in clusters on the branches, with many buds covered by a thin layer of white chalk speckled like snow after processing, giving it the name snow tea.
The tea has a light scent and brews to a honey-yellow color. It also contains precious substances such as anticarcinogens and detoxifying agents, that reportedly can contribute to extending people's life expectancy and spring vitality, according to experts.
People who make Shan Tuyet tea must climb tall trees to collect it, unlike other small and low tea plants in Thai Nguyen or Tuyen Quang provinces, the tea growing hubs in northern Vietnam.
The heritage tea trees that belong to the Mong ethnic group are still allowed to be harvested, but they must be tied with conservation activities.
The harvest season lasts from March to the end of October of the lunar calendar, as the tea buds are caught in the spring rain and budded.
The ancient tea costs about VND1 million ($44) per kilogram if processed by local people, but may be raised to VND10 million by purchasing and processing firms
Previously, indigenous people harvested ancient tea for personal consumption. Now, it becomes a specialty, providing people with a stable source of income.
Earlier in February, 105 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in To Mua commune, Son La province were deemed eligible for recognition as Vietnamese heritage trees.
Ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees have been cultivated for centuries by generations of Tay, Dao and Mong ethnic groups, and can be found in other provinces such as Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lao Cai and Yen Bai in the north.