First Cup: An Overview

 “O’er all the hilltops, is Snow Shan.”

With this quiet inspiration from J.W. Goethe, the story of Snow Shan tea trees, rooting deep across the far-flung wild stretches of Vietnam, will begin.

The high mountains and ancient forests in Northwest of Vietnam are where wild Snow Shan tea trees have grown for hundreds, even thousands of years, with  their canopies extending as far as the eye can see.

The name Snow Shan, which means snow-upon-a-high-mountain, arises from the thick snow-white coat of fur that embraces each silky green tea bud. This telling feature enables the tea leaves to thrive at a height of 2000 meters above sea level, hampered by bitingly cold and frosty climate all year round.

The expansive Northwest mountainous regions from Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, to Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La… all bear the presence of the Snow Shan tea trees. Yet, the magic is found elsewhere: depending on varied soils, climate, hand-picking and manual processing traditions in each locale - Snow Shan tea shall come out with singular aroma and flavor.

The diversity of Snow Shan tea also come from the way the tea is processed, from the light and refined White Tea, to the robust Green Tea, the sweet, aromatic and bright Red Tea (Black Tea), or Pu‘er fermented teas with their deep, contemplative flavors. 

Vietnam’s Snow Shan tea has been increasingly favored in the international market. The first and foremost reason to this popularity is the rarity and purity of this tea family.

Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world blessed with Snow Shan tea trees. Their uncultivated-ness and rich, long-standing history have been great assurance of their preciousness.

And if one has the chance for any cup of Snow Shan tea, the lucky tea-taster is bound to be moved by a clear and bright water reminiscent of the open sky, an unfurnished flavor from the mountains deep, and a smooth note of honey from the Northern forests.

All these touches together form the signature of Snow Shan tea from Vietnam. And of an after-taste quietly flowing from the summits.

The journey of Snow Shan Tea from Vietnam awaits your discovery in here