Top 10 Most Delicious Teas in Vietnam

West Lake Lotus Tea

West Lake Lotus Tea has long been renowned far and wide and is considered a premium, expensive tea. This tea is delicately scented with pure, elegant lotus aroma that captivates the drinker. Nothing is more wonderful than sitting in a bamboo house amid the lotus season at West Lake, sipping a small cup of tea, feeling the gentle fragrance of lotus dissolve in your mouth, bringing an unusually relaxing and peaceful feeling. To brew a delicious cup of tea, the tea maker must be very subtle, meticulous, and skillful—brewing tea is truly a high art.

West Lake Lotus Tea is a combination of Tan Cuong Bud Tea with Bach Diep Lotus flowers. The lotus flowers are picked early in the morning; the lotus seeds (gạo sen) are taken while the rest of the flower is discarded. The lotus seeds are then used to scent the tea for 7 to 10 days, with 4 to 7 scenting cycles per batch to achieve the perfect tea. The tea leaves are small, carrying the natural sweet scent of lotus flowers. The initial taste is mildly astringent, followed by a rich sweetness that lingers long in the throat, creating a mesmerizing sensation.

Mai Khoi White Tea – Lili Tea World

Known as the “lord of teas,” Ancient White Tea is an exquisite treasure not to be missed. Since the Song dynasty, White Tea was a Duyang specialty reserved only for royalty. White Tea was revered not only for its sweet, delicate aroma that stimulates the senses and its crystal-clear liquor resembling morning dew but also for its health benefits recognized long ago: it improves blood circulation, reduces blood fat, supports cardiovascular health, and stimulates vitality. Notably, White Tea contains a high amount of antioxidants, helping eliminate harmful free radicals and preventing some types of cancer.

Northern Vietnam, with mountains over 2000 meters high, is home to thousand-year-old tea trees that produce Silver Needle White Tea, one of the highest-grade teas in the world. You can choose pure White Tea to experience its most pristine flavor or enjoy a unique variation when combined with Mai Khoi Rose flowers. The light, fresh aroma of White Tea blends with the sweet scent of Mai Khoi rose, enchanting anyone who tastes it.

Tan Cuong Tea

Tan Cuong Tea is famous for its home in the steel land of Thai Nguyen province. The tea has a dark green to black color, tightly rolled leaves, and many white tea buds on the surface—distinctive features of this tea. The old saying “Thai tea, Tuyen girls” remains true, as sipping a cup of Tan Cuong tea feels pleasant, harmonious, with a sweet and slightly astringent taste but almost no bitterness.

Tan Cuong Tea is moderately priced compared to other high-end teas but remains beloved for its distinctive fragrance. The aroma arises from the meticulous process of roasting the tea, where heat is carefully applied.

Northwest Ancient Tree Tea

The Northwest region has a cool climate, where tea grows lush without the need for pesticides. The region is famous for Shan Tuyet ancient tree tea, whose trunks have white spots resembling mold or snowflakes. At altitudes of 1,400-1,500 meters above sea level, tea hills are enveloped in mist year-round. The limited quantity and difficult harvesting make this tea rare. To create the perfect dry tea leaves, tea makers must be extremely meticulous, understanding the right degree of “ripeness” and how to control the roasting heat.

Shan Tuyet Tea (Snow Shan Tea) is a specialty of ethnic groups like Tay, Giao, and Mong, and a specialty of provinces like Ha Giang, Dien Bien, and Lao Cai. The ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees are very large, sometimes requiring several people to embrace the trunk. Growing at more than 1200 meters altitude, amidst mist and cold, with large temperature differences between day and night, these unique natural conditions create the distinctive delicious flavor of Shan Tuyet ancient tree tea.

Vang Tea (Jungle Tea)

The Vang plant grows wild in small bushes and is used by locals for decoction or tea. Caution is needed to carefully select this plant, as it can be mistaken for the extremely toxic Ngon leaf (a poisonous plant in category A). The Vang plant has tough stems that can grow dozens of meters long, smooth green bark, lance-shaped leaves with rounded bases and pointed tips, and white flowers with ten petals.

This plant is especially beneficial for postpartum mothers, helping increase milk production and aiding rapid recovery of body shape.

Vang tea is a natural herbal remedy used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, insomnia, indigestion, irregular menstruation, and liver pain. However, proper use is necessary to avoid side effects. Traditionally, there are three types of Vang: Vang Se (small leaves), Vang Trau (large leaves), and Vang Nui (mountain Vang). The mountain type is not used medicinally. Vang Se has small, thin leaves that dry to a light green color and brew a similar-colored tea, while Vang Trau has larger brownish leaves and makes dark brown, odorless tea.