Dubbed the "most premium tea of time," West Lake lotus tea is a specialty of Hanoi cuisine and is considered rare and precious. The tea is crafted with exceptional intricacy and refinement, from selecting the ingredients to the production process.
Lotus tea artisan Ngo Van Xiem (78 years old) and his family meticulously follow traditional methods to infuse the tea with lotus flowers. (Photo: VNA) Fresh lotus tea, while less intricate and lacking the lotus fragrance infused into traditional lotus tea, offers advantages in faster production and supplying larger quantities to the market. (Photo: VNA)
In addition to traditional West lake lotus tea, establishments in Quảng An Ward, Hanoi, also produce fresh lotus tea to cater to diverse customer preferences. (Photo: VNA) West lake lotus tea is a prestigious product of Hanoi, exemplified by the "Hien Xiem lotus tea" brand, recognised with a 4-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating and historically served at Vietnamese tea ceremonies for international dignitaries. (Photo: VNA) Amidst cherished friends, savoring the rich flavor of lotus tea has long been a special tradition for Hanoians. (Photo: VNA)
“Thien co de nhat tra” (The most premium tea of time) West Lake lotus tea, made with lotus flower grown in West Lake, Hanoi, symbolizes the quintessence of the capital’s culture. The best time for making lotus tea is from the end of May to Sept. when lotuses bloom over iconic West Lake. It requires a meticulous and time-consuming process to make the tea in a traditional way.
‘Bach diep’ lotuses (literally hundred-petal lotuses) are a rare species found mostly in Hanoi. They are renowned for not only their beautiful look with many petal layers but also its use of flavouring tea. Enjoying lotus scented tea in a tranquil summer morning is an elegant habit of many Hanoians.
For a long time, villages around the West Lake in Quang Ba, Tay Ho and Nghi Tam in Hanoi have been well known for making lotus tea. It is the scented tea that forms the delicate art of enjoying lotus tea- a special gift of Hanoians.
Lotus flavored tea is a treasured specialty of Hanoi that has been handed down for generations, the most famous of which is the classic West Lake lotus tea.
A project designed to introduce and promote tra sen Tay Ho (West Lake lotus tea) has been approved by the People’s Committee of Tay Ho district in Hanoi.