Na Hang Snow Shan tea is a long-standing and famous product of Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province. In the years before the August Revolution, realizing the value of the ancient tea trees in Na Hang, the French forced the villagers to go to the mountains to pick tea. When harvesting, the farmers in the area must copy the tea and then use the horse to carry the tea to the French station in the Hong Thai commune (Na Hang district). 

Na Hang Snow Shan tea has been selected as a gift to the heads of state. 

  

 

Na Hang Snow Shan tea was honored to be chosen by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as a gift to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (Source: VNA) 

  

 

Comrade Chuu Van Lam, Secretary of Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee presented the Israeli Ambassador with Na Hang Snow Shan tea (Source: People's Committee of Na Hang district) 

  

Na Hang Snow Shan tea is grown naturally or widely grown by farmers at an average altitude of 800-1000m above sea level, the climate is cool all year round, and the average humidity of the air is 85%, so Shan tea snow has a lot of white snow. The product is blackish green, slightly silvery gray, and when mixed with tea, the water has a bright green color, a mild acrid taste, and a clear sweet aftertaste when drinking. 

  

 

Na Hang Snow Shan tea products 

  

Na Hang Snow Shan tea has soluble content of 31.23 - 33.33%, tannin content of 28.12 - 29.97%, total catechin content of 148.14 - 168.51 mg/g, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) content from 0.87 to 0.89%, ash content from 4.70 to 5.90%. 

To have a delicious finished tea, first of all, the processing materials (fresh tea buds) must be of good quality. The quality of tea buds depends on the composition of substances in the tea leaves, which is the result of a series of processes of interaction and metabolism between the tea plant and the surrounding environment and between internal factors in the plant. 

Na Hang is characterized by a mountainous district of Tuyen Quang province, the terrain is strongly dissected with many craggy high mountains and many valleys. Na Hang Snow Shan tea growing communes are located at high altitudes, especially Hong Thai commune has the highest point above 1200m, so the content of tannins and soluble substances in Na Hang Snow Shan tea is high. This is explained by the fact that in high mountains, short-wavelength ultraviolet rays are absorbed more by the atmosphere. Moreover, in the high mountains of tropical climates, the year-round air temperature is lowered at night (below 15oC), so tea buds often accumulate stronger aroma, Tannin, and Soluble content. in the larger tea leaves. 

Due to its high altitude, Na Hang district has a cool climate all year round, with an average annual humidity of 85%, and a large temperature range of day and night (from 10 to 15oC). The large difference in amplitude of day and night is one of the favorable conditions for Na Hang Snow Shan tea plants to metabolize and accumulate nutrients to create their sunique flavor of Na Hang Snow Shan tea. 

The characteristics of Na Hang Snow Shan tea are not only due to the impact of topographical altitude and climate but also due to specific soil characteristics and production methods. Specifically, the Snow Shan tea varieties introduced into cultivation in the geographical area are the tea plants selected by the competent authority from the top varieties. Soil grown in the Na Hang district has a lower content of macronutrients and intermediates than soil in the Yen Son district (Tuyen Quang province). The content of macronutrients and intermediates in tea soil is low partly because the climate is cool all year round, so the weathering process of the soil is slowed down, and partly because people only use organic fertilizers, not chemical fertilizers. The low the nutrient content in the soil, the less the plant can absorb, this is one of the reasons for not increasing the ash content in Na Hang Snow Shan tea (the lower the ash, the better the Snow Shan tea). 

Thanks to the natural factors and the experience gained by Snow Shan tea growers, it has created a quality product, which is the pride of Na Hang people in particular and Tuyen Quang province in general. 

Geographical area: Sinh Long commune, Thuong Giap commune, Thuong Nong commune, Hong Thai commune, Khau Tinh commune, Son Phu commune in Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province. 

  

 

People in Phia Chang village, Son Phu commune (Na Hang) harvest Snow Shan tea (Source: baotuyenquang.com.vn/). 

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