Dai Tu and Phu Luong, two districts in the western part of the province, have an ideal climate and soil for growing tea. Each tea bud is hand-picked, manually roasted, and traditionally scented, creating a premium quality tea with a pleasantly bitter taste and a lingering sweet aftertaste that are true to the essence of Thai tea.

Many cooperatives and households in the two districts now use modern technology and standardized production processes in line with the One Commune One Product standards, good agricultural practices like VietGAP, and international certifications such as ISO. Tea products like Tan Cuong, Khe Coc, Hao Dat, and La Bang tea have 4-star or 5-star national ratings. 10 of 15 communes and towns in Phu Luong produce OCOP products, 28 of which have been certified.

Phan Van Tung, Deputy Chairman of Tuc Tranh commune’s People’s Committee, said, “Our tea products are diverse. Five have a 3- or 4-star OCOP rating. Our annual output is almost 1,300 tons.”

In the lush green tea regions of Dai Tu and Phu Luong, local farmers start picking young tea buds early in the morning. After harvesting, the tea is processed using modern technology combined with traditional manual methods to preserve its natural aroma and nutritional value.

Describing how the tea is harvested to meet VietGAP standards, Pham Van Trong of the Khe Coc Tea Cooperative in Phu Luong said, “The tea must follow the 'one bud, two leaves' rule. That means the tea growers pick fresh buds, plus two young leaves immediately below each bud, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the leaves have absorbed the morning dew. This is the key to ensuring the tea’s quality and fragrance.”

The recognition of Thai Nguyen tea as an OCOP product certifies its high quality and honors the efforts of local farmers and businesses to preserve and promote their tea brand.

Nguyen Nam Tien, Chairman of Dai Tu district People’s Committee, said, "Blessed by nature with beautiful landscapes and fresh air, Dai Tu is particularly famous for its fragrant tea. We have created programs and festivals to promote the district’s OCOP tea products."

Tran Thanh Tung, who often drinks Thai Nguyen tea, said, "The director of the cooperative here introduced me to the tea season and products. I’m now familiar with the special tea products of this region. Many of them are very popular, because their flavor can't be found anywhere else."

OCOP tea from Dai Tu and Phu Luong has made its way into demanding markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU. OCOP products improve the quality of Vietnamese tea and share the cherished tradition of tea drinking with international friends. Thai Nguyen OCOP tea, with its exceptional quality and distinctive flavor, deserves to be a top choice for consumers and a sensible gift for friends and family on special occasions.