Region: Green tea is primarily grown in the Thái Nguyên region, which is known for producing some of the best green teas in Vietnam.
Flavor: Vietnamese green tea has a fresh, grassy flavor with slightly sweet, vegetal notes and a mild bitterness. It is less astringent than some other Asian green teas, with a smooth and clean finish. Depending on the variety, there can also be subtle floral or fruity undertones.
Appearance: The tea brews into a pale green or yellowish-green liquor.
Best For: Green tea is typically enjoyed plain without any milk or sweeteners. It’s popular as an everyday drink in Vietnam and is known for its refreshing qualities.
Vietnamese Green Tea (Chè Xanh)
Region: Green tea is primarily grown in the Thái Nguyên region, which is known for producing some of the best green teas in Vietnam.
Flavor: Vietnamese green tea has a fresh, grassy flavor with slightly sweet, vegetal notes and a mild bitterness. It is less astringent than some other Asian green teas, with a smooth and clean finish. Depending on the variety, there can also be subtle floral or fruity undertones.
Appearance: The tea brews into a pale green or yellowish-green liquor.
Best For: Green tea is typically enjoyed plain without any milk or sweeteners. It’s popular as an everyday drink in Vietnam and is known for its refreshing qualities.
Vietnamese Lotus Tea (Trà Sen)
Flavor: Lotus tea is one of Vietnam's most famous flavored teas. It is made by infusing green tea leaves with the scent of lotus flowers, either by stuffing the tea leaves inside the flowers overnight or by mixing them with lotus stamens. The tea has a unique floral fragrance with a delicate, sweet flavor and a subtle earthy undertone from the green tea base.
Appearance: Pale yellow to light green liquor with a fragrant aroma.
Best For: Lotus tea is often enjoyed on special occasions or given as a gift. It is best consumed without milk to fully appreciate the floral notes.
Vietnamese Jasmine Tea (Trà Nhài)
Flavor: Jasmine tea is another popular scented tea in Vietnam. High-quality green tea is infused with jasmine flowers, resulting in a tea that has a sweet, floral aroma and a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. The jasmine scent is strong but balanced, blending well with the fresh, vegetal notes of the green tea.
Appearance: Light yellow-green liquor with a fragrant floral aroma.
Best For: Jasmine tea is best enjoyed plain and is often served during meals or as a refreshing drink throughout the day.
Vietnamese Oolong Tea (Trà Ô Long)
Region: Oolong tea is mainly grown in the highland areas of Lâm Đồng and the northern mountainous region of Mộc Châu.
Flavor: Vietnamese oolong tea offers a rich, complex flavor that sits between black and green tea. It has a smooth, slightly floral or fruity taste with a light sweetness and a creamy, lingering aftertaste. Depending on the oxidation level, oolong teas can vary from light and fragrant to more robust and roasted.
Appearance: Golden-yellow or amber liquor with a smooth texture.
Best For: Oolong tea is ideal for those who enjoy a more refined tea experience. It is best served plain, allowing drinkers to savor its layered flavors.
Vietnamese White Tea (Chè Trắng)
Region: Grown in the northern highlands, particularly in Hà Giang and Lào Cai.
Flavor: Vietnamese white tea is known for its delicate, sweet, and smooth flavor with subtle floral and fruity notes. It is made from young tea buds and is minimally processed, which preserves its natural sweetness and freshness. White tea is very light and has low caffeine content.
Appearance: Pale yellow or nearly colorless liquor with a mild, delicate aroma.
Best For: White tea is best enjoyed plain without any sweeteners or milk, allowing the delicate flavors to shine through.
Shan Tuyet Tea
Region: Grown in the mountainous regions of Hà Giang and Lào Cai, Shan Tuyet tea is produced from wild tea trees that are hundreds of years old.
Flavor: This tea is highly prized for its unique flavor, which is robust and complex with hints of honey, wildflowers, and sometimes a slight smokiness. Shan Tuyet tea can be processed as green, black, or white tea, each offering a distinct flavor profile. The tea has a rich, full-bodied character with a smooth aftertaste.
Appearance: The tea leaves are often covered in a fine, white "snow" (tuyet), giving the tea its name and a unique appearance.
Best For: Shan Tuyet tea is a rare and premium tea, often enjoyed by tea connoisseurs. It’s best served plain to appreciate its depth of flavor.
Herbal Teas (Trà Thảo Mộc)
Vietnam also produces various herbal teas made from local herbs and plants such as lemongrass, ginger, cinnamon, and artichoke. These herbal teas are popular for their health benefits and are naturally caffeine-free.
Flavor: Each herbal tea has its own distinct taste, with lemongrass being refreshing and citrusy, ginger offering warmth and spiciness, and artichoke tea providing a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
Best For: These herbal teas are enjoyed for their calming and health-promoting properties, often consumed as digestive aids or to relax.
