Tay Ho lotus tea is known as “the most ancient tea”. Enjoying a delicious cup of Tay Ho lotus tea and feeling the quintessence of heaven and earth on the edge of West Lake is an interesting thing. Let’s explore this type of tea with the Origin Vietnam team now!
”The Best Tea Through the Ages” – Hanoi’s specialty
Every lotus season, people in Quang An ward, Tay Ho district, Hanoi pick Bach Diep lotus flowers to make tea. Tay Ho lotus tea has a special delicious flavor. Besides, tea contains the essence of heaven and earth and the enthusiasm that Quang An people have put into it over hundreds of years. Tea is made by manual, sophisticated methods from choosing ingredients to marinating and brewing the tea.
Flavor of Tay Ho Lotus Tea – A Taste of Vietnamese Tradition
1. Pick Bach Diep Lotus And Marinate It In Tea
Bach Diep lotus is a rare lotus variety, originating from Tay Ho, with 100 bright pink petals, the petals are large on the outside, gradually getting smaller inward. In particular, Bach Diep lotus grown on the edge of West Lake has a gentle, pure fragrance. And there are more lotus petals than other places. At 4 a.m., when the lotus buds are catching the morning dew, Quang An people row boats to the lake to pick lotus.
Lotus flowers are picked early when the sun has not yet risen, because at that time the flowers have just opened and still retain their fragrance. Lotus picking work is usually done by men and young people. When the first rays of sunlight shine on the surface of the lake, it is also the time when the lotus picking work ends. The lotus bunches are brought back to proceed with the next steps of the tea making process.
Time to make Tay Ho Lotus Tea
After picking lotus, people will bring home a cup of lotus stamens (also known as Lotus anther) to make tea. Tay Ho lotus tea is only made for 3 months from May to July. The amount of lotus flowers also depends on the number of lotus blooms each day or time. Tay Ho lotus tea making is a traditional profession passed down from generation to generation. This is not only a delicious drink but also imbued with the traditional culture of Tay Ho people.
2. Marinate Lotus Tea
During the lotus season, families with a tradition of making tea on Dang Thai Mai Street, Quang An, Tay Ho are filled with the pink color of lotus flowers. To marinate 1kg of tea, 1,000–1,500 flowers are needed. Going through a multi-step process produces a delicious batch of tea. After picking the lotus from the lagoon, the petals will be peeled and the lotus stamens will be removed. The work must be completed quickly in the morning to avoid the lotus losing its scent. After that, Lotus anther will be used to marinate tea.
The tea is dried thoroughly, then marinated with small lotus petals to “infuse flavor” before marinating with lotus rice. A good batch of tea must go through 7 times of “fragrance,” each time lasting 3 days and 7 times of drying, each time lasting 1 night. From the time the lotus is picked, it takes an additional 21 days of marinating, incubation, and drying to get the finished tea. All stages are done manually, requiring experience.
If you have the opportunity to come to Hanoi during the lotus blooming season, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to go to Tay Ho to explore the traditional tea making profession here. And enjoy a cup of Tay Ho tea to feel the essence of heaven and earth. We are always ready to accompany you on your Hanoi tour.
3. Enjoy Tay Ho Lotus Tea
To feel the deliciousness and essence of Tay Ho tea in each sip, the tea preparation is also very delicate. The teapot is earthenware, eel skin, unglazed; small drinking cup. The first feeling when drinking a sip of Tay Ho lotus tea will be an acrid, bitter taste that lightly touches the tip of the tongue. Then there is the sweetness that lingers in the throat. Besides, give the cup of tea, take a deep breath, the smoke blows into the warm pot. You will feel the fragrance of the lotus flower; of the space of heaven and earth in the ancient village along West Lake with its vast lotus fields seeming to open before our eyes.
Hopefully, the above information will help you understand and feel the flavor of Tay Ho lotus tea. A special drink of Hanoi during the lotus blooming season. If you want to explore the beauty of Hanoi, a gentle beauty with fields full of lotus flowers. Or sip a cup of Tay Ho lotus tea to feel relaxed and comfortable, please contact us. Origin Vietnam – a tour organizer in Vietnam with many years of experience will bring you fun and memorable journeys of discovery.
