7 VIETNAM SNOW SHAN TEA STANDARDS

The 7 Criterias are established for Vietnam Snow Shan Tea Standards are as below:

1. The Standard of Distribution

As at 2018, the Vietnamese ancient Shan tea tree has been found to be grown naturally in the mountain, at an altitude of ≥ 1000m above sea level, in the northwest provinces including Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Son La in the territory of Vietnam. Northwest in Vietnam is characterized by rugged terrain with high mountains of 1800m to 3000m, and limestone plateaus including Ta Phin, Moc Chau, and Na San; and basins of Dien Bien, Nghia Lo and Muong Thanh.

2. The Standard of Morphological characteristics

The scientific name of ancient Shan tea shall be Camellia sinensis var. Shan with the morphological characteristics as follows:

• Ancient Shan tea tree grows naturally in the mountain, has a large wood body with a diameter ≥ 20cm and big branches. If it grows naturally, it can live for hundreds of years, and the height can be up to 5 -10m;
• Ancient Shan tea tree has bud and the lower surface of the young leaf have a layer of white hair like snow so-called Shan Tuyet - Snow Shan (Figure 29);
• Ancient Shan tea tree has big buds. The length of "1 bud + 2 leaf" is 8.1 cm to 9.9 cm. The length of "1 bud + 3 leaf" is 12.1 cm to 14.7 cm;
• Leaf of ancient Shan tea tree is large and long, with about 10 pairs of tendons, pale green leaves, rough, pointed leaves, and leaf margin have many serrations 
• Vietnamese Shan tea tree has fewer flowers and fruit than Chinese Shan tea; 

3. The Standard of Cultivation and Harvesting

Since Shan tea tree is a big tree, harvesting should be handed-pick 

The ancient Shan tea tree should be tending by the technique of natural way of the H'mong, Dao, Thai and Tay minority people to ensure it is clean and safe.

4. The standard of processed products/dried teas

Ancient Shan tea can be processed into 6 types of products/dried teas. They are:

• Green tea - Trà xanh
• White Tea - Trà trắng
• Yelow tea - Trà vàng
• Red tea - Hồng trà
• Black tea - Trà đen
• Dark tea - Bánh trà lên men  

5. The standard of drink quality

The drink quality of ancient Shan tea should have the following 3 factors:

• Mountainous flavour and Vietnamese minority people ¹⁾
• A bit bitter in first taste but feeling sweet after.
• Shan tea drink last longer than ordinary tea ²⁾.

6. The standard of biochemical components of Vietnamese ancient Shan tea

Table 11. Minimum standards of biochemical components recommended for Vietnamese ancient Shan tea.

7. Trademark

Snow Shan Tea Vietnam should use the collectives trademark shown as below in the final products

* from REPORT 4 REPORT ON ANCIENT SHAN TEA STANDARD - Sustainable Shan Tea in Mountainous Area in Vietnam project - prepared by Agrifood Consulting International and ADConsult