(Photo: vtcnews.vn)

Between June and late July, it is common to spot flower vendors carrying bunches of white and pink lotus flowers roaming the streets and alleyways of Hanoi. The lotus ponds in Quang An and Tu Lien ward of Tay Ho district are crowded with people who have come to take pictures.

Bach Diep lotus (literally hundred-petal lotus) is a rare variety found almost nowhere but in Hanoi’s West Lake. This variety is known for its elegant beauty and long-lasting fragrance.

“The West Lake area is endowed with special soil and favorable weather which are suitable for lotuses. West Lake’s lotus flowers have a special beauty and fragrance,” Nguyen Van Chien of Quang An ward said.

Early in the morning, when the lotus flowers are freshest, local people start collecting them for scenting tea. For the longest-lasting fragrance, lotus tea must be made with Bach Diep lotus stamens.

“Through the careful and meticulous processes of the lotus tea makers, the tea has a unique flavor that goes straight to one’s soul," painter Tran Hau Yen The said.

A lotus pond in the West Lake area (Photo: nhandan.vn)

According to artisan Hoang Anh Suong, the owner of the Truong Xuan teahouse, lotus tea is a specialty of Hanoi and enjoying the tea is an art. Only connoisseurs can have the fullest appreciation of the tea’s sophisticated flavor.

“Hanoians love nature. There are many kinds of tea in Vietnam, but lotus tea is the most highly regarded. People call it ‘The King of Teas’,” he said. 

Hanoians also use lotus flowers for decoration. Many display the flowers in their home to enjoy their elegant beauty and relaxing fragrance.

“I often buy and arrange lotus flowers from Dam Tri pond. The flowers have large petals and an enchanting scent. I also buy lotus tea as a gift,” said Do Thi Hao of Dong Da district.

Lotus is a plant whose parts can be used for different purposes. Lotus stamens are used to scent teas, and lotus roots are used like a vegetable in cooking. Many kinds of drinks and dishes are made from lotus flowers.