Tea

Mature green tea is a type of Vietnamese green tea made manually from young tea buds, dried and roasted. The tea leaves curl like hooks, are dark gray in color, and possess a natural, rustic flavor without added floral fragrances. It is popular in Vietnamese culture for daily consumption, entertaining guests, and religious ceremonies. It is distinguished from fresh tea (fresh leaves) and scented tea (infused with flowers). The most famous is Thai Nguyen Mature Green Tea, known for its mild astringency and sweet aftertaste.

Ingredients: Young tea buds (tender shoots and a few adjacent young leaves).

• Processing: Dried, rolled, and flavored using traditional methods; no added floral fragrances.
• Appearance: Small, curled tea leaves (hence the name “hook tea”).
• Color: Dark gray leaves; when brewed, the tea has a shimmering yellowish-green color.
• Flavor: Rustic, with a mild astringency at the beginning but a smooth, sweet aftertaste.

Popular Types

• Thai Nguyen Loose Leaf Tea: The most famous in Vietnam, with a delicate, rice-like aroma.
• Chinese Tea (Zen Tea): Embracing a profound tea-drinking style, focusing on inner contemplation, served in Yixing clay teapots.
• Ancient Shan Tuyet Loose Leaf Tea: A precious tea from the Northwest region, processed into tea cakes for ancient nobility.

Benefits (According to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Research)

• Antioxidant, slows aging (thanks to polyphenols and vitamin C).
• Supports cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Improves mood, enhances concentration (thanks to the amino acid L-theanine).
• Supports weight management, reduces excess fat.