Efforts made to preserve ancient shan tuyet tea trees in Ha Giang

Ha Giang – Northern Ha Giang province’s Hoang Su Phi district, the hub of shan tuyet tea trees, which has been recognised as part of the Ancient Tree Heritage of Vietnam, is working hard to preserve and develop the tree and promote the signature product.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hoang Su Phi currently has over 4,600 hectares of shan tuyet tea farm, with an output of 12,880 tonnes of fresh tea per year worth 115 billion VND.

Of the total area, about 2,000 hectares ancient tea trees with production of more than 6,000 tonnes per year.

Hoang Su Phi has 25 tea processing facilities, including five cooperatives with a capacity of producing 3-5 tonnes per day, creating jobs for many local labourers with high income.

Income of shan tuyet tree farmers is about 50 million VND (2,150 USD) per year, which helps them improve the living conditions.

According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hong, Vice President of the Vietnam Tea Association, the preservation and enhancement of Hoang Su Phi tea trees and the building trademark for Hoang Su Phi shan tuyet tea products.

She underlined the need of communication work to raise locals’ awareness of protecting and developing the trees.

Currently, 1,470 hectares of tea farm in Hoang Su Phi has received organic certification, including 161 hectares meeting EU standards. Hoang Su Phi tea has also got geographical indication. However, the product has yet to be sold in many international markets.

Ly Choi Nhan, head of the district’s Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, over the years, Ha Giang has issued various policies to develop and sell shan tuyet tea product in a sustainable manner.

Hoang Su Phi district has strengthened trade promotion, while focusing on cultivation, harvesting and processing of shan tuyet tea, thus enhancing the value of the product, especially ancient shan tuyet tea, he said.

Nhan said that material tea in the district is highly valued by international experts, but selling activities have still been modest. Therefore, in the future, Hoang Su Phi will continue improving its production and processing methods to enhance the value and trademark of the product.

In August this year, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam issued certification of geographical indication on Ha Giang shan tuyet tea in six districts and 44 communes, giving a chance for the province to promote the product wider in the global market.