Lotus tea is a beverage that reflects the delicate culinary culture of the capital city of Hanoi. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has recently issued Decision No. 2316/QD-BVHTTDL, recognising the traditional craft of Quang An lotus-infused tea (in Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi) as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

West Lake is a famous scenic spot in the capital which is home to a special variety of lotus known as "bach diep" (hundred-petal lotus), with each flower having around 100 petals and a distinctive fragrance.

Since ancient times, lotus tea has been considered a precious tea product of the Vietnamese people. The lotus flower holds deep cultural and religious significance in many Asian countries, especially in Vietnam. The combination of lotus and tea creates a harmonious and exquisite flavour. The “bach diep” lotus is mainly grown in Quang An Ward.

Quang An Ward, which is bordered by West Lake on three sides, has 157 hectares of lake surface area, including 11 ponds, lakes, and lagoons with rich soil and thick layers of mud, which is ideal for the growth of “bach diep” lotus. This is a vast lotus-growing area of Hanoi and also the cradle of the famous lotus tea infusion craft. Generations of locals have preserved and passed down the lotus tea infusion craft.

Currently, Tay Ho District has hundreds of locals engaged in the craft of lotus tea infusion, with the highest concentration being in Quang An Ward.

The process of making dried lotus tea is very meticulous and involves many stages, including selecting raw materials, washing the tea, extracting the lotus stamens, infusing the tea, drying the tea, and packaging and storing.

While the process of infusing whole lotus flowers is less complicated than that of dried lotus tea, the artisans must use special techniques to achieve a flavourful and aromatic tea. The raw tea used for infusing whole lotus flowers is typically premium tea buds.

After the tea is infused once with the lotus stamens, it is placed inside a lotus flower, with about 15 grammes per flower. This task requires the skill and precision of the artisans.

Today, the craft of lotus tea infusion in Quang An faces challenges due to the shrinking of the lotus cultivation area, environmental pollution affecting lotus growth, and changing consumer preferences.

An increasing number of young people are showing less interest in tea and do not enjoy drinking it. Moreover, many people do not fully understand or appreciate the cultural, spiritual, and physical benefits of tea drinking, especially lotus-infused tea.

Hanoi has devised a plan to develop and expand the area for growing “bach diep” lotus to honour the value of the West Lake lotus and help preserve the traditional craft of lotus tea infusion in the area.

The recognition of the traditional craft of lotus tea infusion in Quang An as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage comes as good news, motivating Hanoi to implement measures for the preservation, promotion, and development of the values of West Lake lotus.

The artisan makes efforts to preserve the century-old craft village

More than 40 kilometres from the centre of Hanoi, Quang Phu Cau incense village in Ung Hoa District has become a destination that attracts much attention from both domestic and foreign tourists.

Linkage Group of cooperatives that produce and consume Chu noodle established

BAC GIANG - The Farmers' Association in Luc Ngan district (Bac Giang province) has just guided to establish a Linkage Group of cooperatives that produce and consume Chu noodles in Thu Duong village, Nam Duong commune (Luc Ngan). 

Vietnamese culture, handicraft products attract visitors at Paris Fair 2024

Vietnamese businesses are taking part in the Foire de Paris (Paris Fair) in the capital of France, a showcase of culture and food from around the world that runs from May 1-12.

Hanoi’s typical handicraft products displayed at Great Souvenirs Fair 2024

The Hanoi Great Souvenirs Fair 2024 kicked off at the Hanoi Museum on the evening of April 25, displaying typical handicraft products of the capital city.

Vietnamese Tet in ancient village

A Tet atmosphere deeply rooted in tradition, which is characteristic of villages in the Northern Delta, has been re-enacted at the one and only ancient village in the suburbs of Hanoi - Duong Lam. With numerous attractive activities and a space rich in ancient hues, the “Vietnamese Village Tet” event attracted a large number of visitors from both inside and outside of Vietnam and offered many inte

Preserving and promoting the values of traditional craft villages

Traditional craft villages play an important role in the economic development of the rural areas. Facts have shown that craft villages have not only created many job opportunities, not only for people of working age but also for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children but also helped to narrow the gap between rich and poor in rural areas.

Source: NDO