Discovering lotus tea making art of Hanoians
The traditional lotus tea making art in Tay Ho district is a popular suggestion for travelers during their trip to Hanoi.
Lotus tea is widely viewed as being one of the best Vietnamese teas and can be considered as a unique gift from Hanoi, with experiencing the traditional lotus tea making art in Tay Ho district being a popular suggestion for travelers during their trip to the capital.
The lotus harvesting season in West Lake usually starts in May and ends in July.
During early morning in the summer, local villagers bring lotus flowers back home which they pick from West Lake in Tay Ho district.
Bach Diep lotus is a famous lotus flower variety of the capital which is notable for being a light, large, and fragrant flower.
Ngo Thi Than is one of a few artisans who is well-known for traditional lotus tea making in Quang An village of Tay Ho district in Hanoi.
Than and her descendants gather together to peel off the petals in order to get the lotus anther as fast as possible.
Getting the lotus anther is a key stage in the process of lotus tea making.
The lotus anther is an indispensable ingredient used in lotus tea.
Tea is put into the lotus flower when it has just opened. Each flower typically contains about 13g of tea.
During the time the tea is packed in the flower, the tea absorbs its scent. Lotus flowers used to make lotus tea must therefore have peduncles.
Around 1,200 to 1,500 lotus flowers are needed in order to scent roughly three kilograms of tea.
The preparation of lotus tea is in itself an art which is enjoyed by those who practice the craft.
Earthenware teapots and small cups are usually used in order to preserve the aroma of the tea.