Traditional Vietnamese Ripe Yeast Tea

In the rich tea culture of Vietnam, traditional ripened tea is a special type of tea, little known but carrying within it a deep history and a unique flavor. Processed using natural or semi-natural fermentation techniques, ripened tea is not only a drink - but also a symbol of indigenous knowledge, slowness, and simplicity in the lifestyle of ancient Vietnamese people.

Ripe tea (also known as brewed tea, black tea, or dark tea) is a type of tea that has been fermented in warm, humid conditions, allowing the tea leaves to fully oxidize. Unlike green tea, which retains its fresh color and astringent taste, ripe tea has a reddish-brown color, a sweet aftertaste, and a warm, deep aroma, often reminiscent of wood, forest soil, or dried herbs.

Traditional Vietnamese fermented tea mainly uses ancient Shan Tuyet tea from highland areas such as Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai. These ancient tea trees, hundreds of years old, growing naturally in deep forests, are an ideal source of raw materials for fermentation due to their high polyphenol content and strong essence, helping the tea retain its characteristic flavor after a long period of ripening.

The process of making ripe yeast tea has been passed down through many generations in ethnic communities in the highlands, including the following main steps:

• Withering and crumpling the tea: After picking, the tea buds are withered and then crumpled lightly to crush the leaf structure.

• Drying and dew-drying: After fermentation reaches maturity, the tea is dried or roasted to stop the fermentation process, then it can be lightly dew-dried to stabilize the flavor.

Ripe yeast tea brings a quiet and profound experience:

• Reddish brown to amber color

• Aromas of old wood, herbs, honey or damp earth

• Tea flavor is smooth, sweet aftertaste, less bitter

• The longer you leave it, the more flavorful and well-rounded the tea becomes.

This tea is great for slow drinking, tea meditation, or after meals to aid digestion.

Not just a drink, ripe yeast tea also brings many benefits:

• Warms the stomach, aids digestion

• Stabilizes blood pressure, good for the elderly

• Rich in antioxidants, prevents aging

• Creates a feeling of relaxation, reduces stress

Culturally, ripe tea is a testament to the harmony between nature and folk knowledge, a heritage that needs to be restored and promoted in the modern flow.

Traditional Vietnamese ripened yeast tea is not simply a type of tea, but a symbol of tranquility, depth and connection with tradition. In today’s fast-paced life, a cup of ripened yeast tea is an invitation to return to oneself – where the old scent still lingers, the old taste still lingers.