Vietnam - Tra Da

Vietnam, once part of French Indochina, has a long tea tradition. In the north one finds a tea culture that is over 800 years old, rich in traditions and very much influenced by its northerly neighbour China. In southern Vietnam it is mostly the French colonialists that start producing black tea in the highlands. During the chaotic war-times in the 60ies Vietnam is turned from a blossoming and rich country to a poverty-stricken nation. This desolate situation hits its bottom in the 80ies, and since then also the tea production gets systematically more attention. At the ancient court of Annam (Vietnam) tea has been drunk long before the arrival of the French. The imperial tea gardens were situated in the mountains to the north of Hanoi. The fact that Vietnam is again counted among the tea producing countries is due to the considerable effort of today's tea producers. Vietnamese tea is subject to meticulous controls pertaining to residues, thus ensuring the constant quality that is required by the international tea trade. Nowadays, from north to south, tea is ubiqitous and Tra Da, as the refreshing green tea on ice is called, is an important part of the welcoming culture of Vietnam.