Tay Con Linh is renowned as the "sanctuary of ancient tea" with a high density of tea trees, hundreds and even thousands of years old, nurtured by nature year-round.

Born and raised in the area, Trieu Vinh Lau resolved not to waste the "heavenly gift", the precious raw material that cannot be found elsewhere. In 2018, he officially started his journey in the tea-making profession.

Guided meticulously by a Chinese tea expert friend, he accumulated knowledge and hands-on experience in fermented teas such as black tea, white tea, and pu-erh, the types not yet common in Vietnam at the time.

"Our people previously only knew how to make green tea, which is bitter with high caffeine content. But with fermentation techniques, I create milder, easier-to-drink teas that are also better for health," Lau shared.

As a local resident who deeply understands the land and the tea, he carefully selects rare, ancient tea buds from communes like Cao Bo and Tung San, turning them into high-value products.

He said that certain teas, like black tea made from tender buds of ancient trees, go through an intricate fermentation process lasting nearly three months, then are aged in storage for another year before being sold. This type of tea can fetch up to VND8.6 million per kilogram, but is worth every sip.

"Even with the same bud, different processing methods result in different flavors and health benefits. Some teas made from thousand-year-old tea trees can be brewed up to 50 times without losing their taste," he explained.

With a bold spirit of thinking and acting, Lau experiments with his tea-making to add value to traditional products.

Innovative mindset 

He researched and produced Dong Phuong My Nhan brand tea, made from leaves bitten by pests, often considered "waste." Under traditional green tea methods, summer crop materials are not as good as spring or autumn (more bitter and astringent), so prices are usually lower. Around July, the hottest and rainiest time, is ideal for pests and insects to thrive. However, leaves bitten by insects release resin to heal themselves, and this resin contains excellent anti-aging properties. 

“I found a way to make tea from those bitten leaves. It is not bitter but mildly aromatic, especially suitable for women," Lau revealed.

Using the same summer tea leaves, this new method has doubled their market value. Dong Phuong My Nhan tea now sells for VND1.65 million per kilogram, even higher than spring tea at VND1.5 million per kilogram.

Bringing highland tea to the world 

From a small business, Lau established the Rau Rong Tea Company in 2021. In Vietnamese, Rau Rong means ‘Dragon’s beard’. The name symbolizes the preciousness and elegance of ancient wild tea buds picked from remote mountain areas likened to the beard of a dragon.

With little capital and no marketing team, Lau has remained hands-on in every production stage, with the goal of preserving the natural essence of Tay Con Linh’s mountains and forests.

Currently, his company markets over 30 products from ancient tea trees meeting the standards to be recognized as "wild" – preferred even over "organic" or "clean" certifications.

After the company became stable, Lau sought market expansion and connected with online tea ceremony communities, introducing products, sending samples, and listening to feedback to grasp preferences.

Then a “miracle” happened. The first small order came from the US, then the second and subsequent. Customers returned, trusted, and placed larger orders. Now, Rau Rong Tea products are regularly consumed by US partners.

Besides the US market, Lau is advancing re-entry into China, completing procedures to export Vietnamese branded products through official channels.

To the question "how can a small business go so far," Lau said, smiling: "As it's small, it's easier to navigate. Small and lean makes it easy to meet the right people. Too big can be cumbersome. The US market is tough, but doable. The key is whether we dare to start."

His company collects about 1.5 tons of fresh tea per month, generating income for 40-50 highland households.

Binh Minh