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Third cup: Snow Shan’s taste among the cloudy Ta Xua, Son La
Ta Xua, Son La is the place travelers frequently think of as a picturesque retreat among the clouds. For tea-lovers, though, they fall in love with this land for another special reason: Snow Shan tea.
Ta Xua belongs to Bac Yen district, Son La province, bordering Yen Bai province, at an average altitude of 1,400 - 1,600 m above sea level. Ta Xua’s highest mountain peak reaches 2,865 m, the 10th highest in Vietnam. Ta Xua’s terrain is quite complex with an average slope of 25 - 300, rising to >350 in mountainous areas.
The local people call Ta Xua “gateway to the sky” – where the earth and sky become one, engulfed in white clouds all year round.
Ta Xua’s subtropical climate is characterized with dry and cold winters, and fog lasts 6 months from November to April next year. From May to October is a cool summertime. Other statistics include an average annual temperature of 180C and an average annual rainfall of 1,500 mm. The rainy season is June, July and August, accounting for 85% of the total annual rainfall. The dry season receives only 15% of the total rainfall. Average humidity is 78%.
The combination of ideal height, dry and cold climate with year-round coolness, Ta Xua is especially suitable for the growth of Snow Shan tea trees. Ta Xua commune consists of eight villages, among which only five produce tea. Ancient tea trees are found only at two villages, most notably in Be village. In addition, the majority of Snow Shan tea trees were planted since 1968, with seed germination or propagation methods.
Snow Shan tea plantation areas grew considerably in 2013 – 2017, from 89 ha with productivity of 494 kg/ ha, to 129 ha yielding 44,000 kg of tea buds/ ha in 2017. Today, Snow Shan tea areas in Ta Xua is estimated to be over 180 ha, across the villages of Ta Xua A, Ta Xua C, Chung Chinh, Be and Mong Vang.
Polulating Ta Xua are the H’Mông people. They grow up with the ancient tea trees, from which they pick the tea leaves and process them into fine tea for special festive and ceremonial occasions.
Snow Shan tea from Ta Xua, Son La carries the shimmering aroma-flavor of this cloud-engulfed land. The water shines with a golden hue. The aroma is that of wild flowers and fruits, complemented by a richly fragrant flavor, honey-sweet and deeply mellow.
If a globetrotter can go the extra mile for a “cloud hunt” in Ta Xua, then tea-lovers are more than willing to make extra effort for a cup of Ta Xua Snow Shan tea, which tastes like the passing clouds in the sky.