Preserving the 'Bitter First, Sweet After' Essence of Tân Cương Tea

When mentioning Tân Cương, one must think of its renowned tea. The distinctive flavor of Tân Cương tea, known for its "bitter first, sweet after" taste, originates from the small-leaf midland tea variety cultivated since 1922. While other regions have adopted high-yield hybrids, Tân Cương farmers maintain traditional midland tea farms, ensuring the unique taste remains. The Tiến Yên Tea and Community Tourism Cooperative exemplifies this commitment, cultivating over a hectare of the indigenous variety using VietGAP standards. Director Bùi Trọng Đại emphasizes the importance of favorable natural conditions and meticulous cultivation techniques passed down through generations. Recognizing the growing demand for safe products, the cooperative is transitioning to organic farming practices with support from the Thái Nguyên Provincial Agricultural Extension Center. This commitment extends to investing in modern processing equipment and training to achieve VietGAP and UTZ certifications, ensuring high-quality tea for consumers.