Ho Thau Shan Tuyet Tea: Rising as a global gold-standard brand

Within just two years, the Ho Thau Shan Tuyet tea brand from Tuyen Quang Province has made a strong impression on the global stage, securing four Gold and Silver awards at prestigious tea competitions in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. This success stems from a sustainable development strategy built on conserving unique raw materials and applying modern production technologies.

Nguyen Trung Dung, Director of Ho Thau Tea Cooperative, receives the Gold Award at the Asia Pacific Tea Competition 2025.

Nestled at the foot of Chieu Lau Thi Mountain, the ancient Shan Tuyet tea forests of Ho Thau Commune have long been known as the “green treasure” of western Tuyen Quang. Capitalizing on this natural advantage, the Ho Thau Tea Cooperative - founded in 2015 - shifted from traditional production to a nature-friendly cultivation model, minimizing mechanical intervention and integrating scientific techniques to enhance product quality.

A defining feature of the Ho Thau brand is its respectful approach to centuries-old tea trees. Over the past seven years, the cooperative has maintained a 12-hectare dynamic conservation zone, where tea trees grow naturally under the forest canopy without pruning or forced care. This allows the plants to self-regulate, develop strong taproots, and accumulate nutrients that shape the rich, distinctive flavor of Shan Tuyet tea.

Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with no more than two pickings per year to allow the trees time to recover. Although this results in just one-tenth of the output of traditional methods, the value per kilogram increases significantly. Alongside the conservation area, the cooperative also manages 350 hectares of tea plantations certified Organic Vietnam and granted international plantation codes - an essential requirement for accessing demanding markets.

In processing, the cooperative has invested in HACCP-standard facilities, replacing coal and firewood with clean energy sources such as electricity, gas, and diesel. A 500-square-meter factory and 1,500 square meters of drying space ensure a closed, safe, and consistent production process. Each year, the cooperative supplies 3 - 4 tons of high-quality finished tea, including Black tea, White tea, and Raw Pu’er tea, to premium retail chains across major Vietnamese cities.

Thanks to this sustainable and meticulous approach, Ho Thau tea products have begun making their mark internationally. In 2024, the cooperative won one Gold and one Silver at the Golden Leaf Awards in Australia. In 2025, at the prestigious Asia Pacific Tea Competition in China, Ho Thau continued its winning streak with two Gold Awards for its White tea and Raw Pu’er tea, further solidifying the presence of Shan Tuyet tea from Tuyen Quang on the world tea map.

Duy Tuan