“Awakening” the potential of Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea region

Pa Co commune also protects 1,250 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees from 200 to 300 years old.

Specialty plants on the misty mountain top

Legend has it that, long ago, there was a Phoenix with a golden beak that only ate tea berries from trees growing in the high mountains. When the Phoenix returned to Pa Co, it brought all the tea berries from the Northwest region and spread them all over the area. The tea seeds fell on Pa Hang mountain and developed into a forest, with trees hundreds of years old...

Mr. Phang A Truong invites tourists to enjoy Shan Tuyet tea in the cultural space of the Mong people.

At a simple bamboo and wooden table and chairs, Mr. Phang A Truong in Cha Day village and guests from afar sipped a cup of Shan Tuyet tea with a gentle aroma and a golden color like honey. The young man from the highland ethnic minority introduced the local specialty with a proud voice: Only when growing in the highlands, with a cool climate and fog all year round, does Shan Tuyet tea have excellent quality. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, Shan Tuyet tea is distributed in all villages in Pa Co, most in Pa Co and Pa Hang villages. Local people let the tea trees grow naturally, without being affected by fertilizers or chemicals, ensuring safety for health. On the other hand, people use manual processing methods to preserve the pure, unique flavor, combining bitterness, sweetness, and natural aroma.

Talking about specialty tea trees, Mr. Kha A Gia in Pa Co village did not forget to recall the "silent moments" when tea trees grew wild and naturally for many years... Besides using them to make drinks, people did not pay attention to tea, and did not think that one day the specialty tea variety would bring value and a source of livelihood. Looking back at the area of ​​Shan Tuyet tea in the commune, there are about 115 hectares, of which more than 90% of the total area has stable harvests and 1,250 ancient tea trees with ages ranging from 200 to 300 years.

The potential of Shan Tuyet tea area was "awakened" thanks to the enthusiasm of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, Director of Phuong Huyen Seed Production and Trading Company Limited ( Hoa Binh Ward), who pioneered in linking with farmers to build a clean agricultural value chain. With the guidance of the enterprise, ancient Shan Tuyet tea is planted, cared for according to the correct process, harvested according to standards and each bud is meticulously selected by the Mong people here. Immediately after picking, the snow-white young tea buds are processed using traditional methods to create a precious product, typical of the high rocky mountains.

Shan Tuyet tea is harvested and processed by hand by Pa Co commune people.

Fresh tea buds are meticulously processed.

Bringing the scent of Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea far and wide

With the “handshake” between the State and enterprises to create jobs and stable “output” for the people, a Shan Tuyet tea processing factory was built on Pa Co tea land. The factory has been in operation since 2019, fully equipped with equipment such as roasting machines, tea rolling machines, sieve machines, micro-dryers, incinerators, and a factory design capacity of about 5 tons of fresh buds/day. From here, a linked product chain is established, the consumption market is promoted, bringing income and a prosperous life to ethnic minorities.

The Shan Tuyet tea growing area is expanding, creating a sustainable source of livelihood for Pa Co people.

Since joining the chain, hundreds of households in Mong village have signed contracts to supply tea buds to businesses. Typical examples include Mr. Sung A Phai's family in Xa Linh village, Mr. Sung A Sia in Cha Day village, Mr. Sung A Pha in Pa Co village... In addition to the existing Shan Tuyet tea area, Phuong Huyen Plant Seed Production and Trading Company Limited has deployed Shan Tuyet tea propagation to increase the area to meet the demand for "input" materials. In particular, ancient tea trees are coded for protection and carefully cared for to exploit their advantages effectively and sustainably.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, Director of Phuong Huyen Seed Production and Trading Company Limited, shared: Domestic tea industry experts believe that tea quality "competes" with altitude. The higher the tea is grown, the more delicious and flavorful it will be. Shan Tuyet tea grown in the high mountains of Pa Co produces the best quality. In 2019, along with the herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum, the enterprise's Shan Tuyet Pa Co tea built a brand with the honor of receiving the Golden Cup "For the development of ethnic minority communities in Vietnam". In the same year, Shan Tuyet Pa Co tea products underwent strict evaluation and appraisal to be certified as a 4-star OCOP product at the provincial level.

Tourists visit and experience clean agricultural tourism products in the Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea area.

Now, Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea has affirmed its position, its brand is increasingly expanding, dominating the domestic and foreign markets. In addition to exploiting the domestic market, the enterprise has expanded the market to distribute Shan Tuyet tea products to major partners in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and some southern provinces. According to comrade Sung A Chênh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Pa Co commune, since the enterprise has accompanied, the awareness of the value of Shan Tuyet tea in the Mong community has changed significantly, the poverty reduction effort in the locality has changed more sharply, the appearance of the countryside has changed a lot. In the period of 2020-2025, the average poverty rate of the commune will decrease by 3%/year.

The potential and strengths of the Shan Tuyet tea region are increasingly preserved and promoted. In addition to exploiting commercial tea, the Mong people here have implemented a clean agricultural tourism model with outstanding experiential activities such as visiting the ancient Shan Tuyet tea system growing on high mountains, and joining the locals in harvesting and drying tea in the traditional way...

Bui Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-vung-che-shan-tuyet-pa-co-237183.htm