A man picks lotus flowers at West Lake in Hanoi. VNS Photos Nguyen Long

Coming to the lake in Tay Ho District, people will be charmed by the fragrant smell radiating from lotus ponds all over the region. Lotuses grow here in many areas: Kim Lien Pagoda, Quang Khanh Village, Nhat Tan and Xuan La wards.

Lotuses are used to make tea and must be collected in the early morning, when the dew remains heavy, in order to ensure the tea’s freshness.

 
One famous cultivar of lotus grown here is named Bach Diep, which means a hundred petals. It is well known for its characteristic fragrance.

Bach Diep flowers are the only type used to make lotus-scented tea because of their distinctive aroma. For a long time, Ho Tay lotus tea was considered the finest and most quintessential tea in Vietnam.

The weather conditions decide when the lotus fragrance infuses into the dried tea leaves. Sometimes it only takes 18-24 hours.


 
The lotuses used to make the tea must be picked in the early morning when the dew remains heavy in order to ensure the tea’s freshness. After that, the anther is quickly separated from the flower before it withers and loses its fragrance.

Choice lotus flowers at West Lake are almost three times higher than the market.

According to the retailers, the price of choice lotus flowers at West Lake is almost three times higher than the market. 
 

Lotus flower ponds near Ho Tay are busy with people flocking to take photos.

In addition to making tea, each part of the lotus has its own use. The lotus root can help prevent allergies and infections, while the lotus seed plays a vital role in traditional medicine practices. Other parts of the plant can be used in dishes of Vietnamese cuisine.  
 

Source: Vietnam News