In the days leading up to Lunar New Year 2025, the atmosphere in Thai Nguyen has become more bustling than ever. People are rushing to buy flowers, ornamental plants, and Tet decorations. Not only the flower market, but the tea markets are also bustling and vibrant.
Phuc Triu Tea Market (Thai Nguyen City) has been established for more than 30 years. This is a famous market for trading and buying tea, attracting hundreds of traders and visitors to visit and shop.
According to the reporter's records on the days approaching Tet At Ty 2025, the tea market area is located in a corner of Phuc Triu market, hundreds of square meters wide.
From early morning, the market was packed with people, hundreds of traders and people were busy buying tea to prepare for the Tet market. The bustling buying and selling scene created a lively picture, filled with the bustling atmosphere of spring.
As a trader who has been associated with the market for decades, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (Tan Cuong commune, Thai Nguyen city) said that this market only meets 12 main sessions each month on even days. The sessions only take place in the morning starting at 7am and ending at 12pm.
Inside, there are various types of tea from many places in Thai Nguyen province. Prices range from 130,000 VND/kg to several hundred thousand VND/kg.
The special feature of the market is the tea tasting process to evaluate the quality and decide the price of the product. Good tea must ensure two factors: "shape" and "aroma". This can only be felt when directly brewing and tasting the tea.
"There are many ways to taste tea, for example, Moc Cau tea, a famous product of Tan Cuong land with the characteristic of curved and small tea leaves.
To easily identify, just put your hand in a handful of tea and tilt it upside down. If the tea leaves are connected, not separate and falling down, then it is real tea" - Ms. Hanh said.
Sharing her experience in choosing tea, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue (Dong Hy), a customer who came to buy tea, said that good tea is when the brewed water has a yellow-green color, is clear, not cloudy, has a mild bitter taste, and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
"By testing tea, connoisseurs can know the quality of the product by the color of the water, the taste of the tea, and the shape of the tea grounds. For example, Tan Cuong tea will have a green rice flavor and a mild bitterness, while tea from Dong Hy district has a slightly bitter taste," said Ms. Hue.
The bustling atmosphere of Phuc Triu tea market in spring blends with the fragrant aroma of tea, creating an unforgettable feature. This is not only a place for trading but also a vivid picture of the culture of the tea land in the brilliant spring.
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