Hai Ha Golden Buds | Sweet and Fragrant Hanoi Black Tea

ORIGIN & HARVEST TIME

Quang Ninh Province, North-Vietnam, 2024

CHARACTER

Its floral, doughy, and bread aroma makes this tea exceptionally flavorful. Beyond its sweet base notes, it fills the palate and nose with a rich bouquet reminiscent of Asian floral pastries and sakura cookies. The scent, aroma, and taste are all intense, with nutty, biscuit  flavors that are full-bodied, pudding-like, and subtly spiced. Its lush, floral fragrance enhances its complexity, making it an exceptionally enjoyable tea.

Quang Ninh Province is located in Vietnam, bordering China’s Guangxi Province. The unique aroma of its teas is often attributed to the salinity of coastal rainwater and the region’s mineral-rich soil. The brews are consistently rich, offering floral fragrances and exquisite, exotic flavors. These teas are exceptional for relaxation and tasting, boasting high enjoyment value.

The Ngoc Thuy cultivar, derived from jade oolong, produces the fragrant golden leaves of northern Vietnam and is processed using Chinese techniques of drying, rolling, and oxidation. The revitalization of Quang Ninh Province’s Hai Ha tea region is credited to Ms. Ha Ngoc Quynh, director of Thuan Quynh Company. Recognizing the uniquely favorable climate of the narrow strip bordered by mountains and the sea, her team began planting tea bushes imported from China and Taiwan, starting with 15–20 hectares per village. By the early 1990s, several tea processing factories were established. Two high-yield cultivars, Ngoc Thuy and Bat Tien, were developed from Taiwan’s Jade Oolong variety.

DOSAGE & BREWING GUIDELINE

1-2g/100 ml, 90°C water, 2-3 minutes (or longer), 3 times