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For a long time, the art of tea appreciation has been a beautiful cultural tradition and is still preserved today. Each region and locality has its own unique way of brewing and enjoying tea. But perhaps throughout the country, the fragrant reputation of West Lake lotus tea never ceases to captivate people. Someone once said that tea leaves infused with lotus flowers from the Dong Tri, Thuy Su, and Quang Ba villages around West Lake are the finest teas, unmatched anywhere else.
Patience and meticulousness
The lotus from West Lake is always considered a precious variety because of its many petals arranged together, its deep yellow pistil, and its delicate pink petals—a unique shade of pink that is neither too light nor too dark—and its intoxicating fragrance. Not only the flowers but also the leaves carry a strong scent, a fragrance that is both gentle and subtly intense, reminiscent of the tranquil, ancient mud and the sweet water of West Lake, the sacred land of Thang Long.
Those who make lotus tea always choose the tranquil times of dusk and dawn to quietly paddle their small boats through the water.
Those who make lotus tea always choose the gentle moments of dusk and dawn to quietly paddle their small boats through the pond and select the first-blooming lotus flowers, exuding a refreshing and delicate fragrance.
The process of infusing tea leaves with lotus is the most important step in obtaining a fragrant, flavorful, and exquisite cup of lotus tea. The reason West Lake lotus tea is so precious is partly because the lotus flowers bloom only once a year, from June to August, producing the most uniform and beautiful blossoms.
When infusing tea, artisans can directly wrap tea leaves in lotus blossoms harvested from the pond, using the morning dew collected from the lotus leaves to brew teas renowned as "the finest tea of all time."
Furthermore, the most common method of preserving the exquisite aroma of lotus rice for the longest time is through infusing the tea with lotus seeds. For every kilogram of tea, 200 grams of lotus rice are used for a single infusion. Meanwhile, to obtain 100 grams of lotus rice, nearly 100 lotus flowers are needed. The infusion process must be repeated about 8 times, meaning that on average, each kilogram of tea requires approximately 1400 West Lake lotus flowers. It is precisely because of this meticulous process that lotus tea retains its lotus fragrance for so long.
Refined and elegant
To truly appreciate the authentic flavor of West Lake lotus tea, the way it's brewed and enjoyed plays a special role. The centuries-old tea-making secrets of the ancient people of Thang An (Hanoi) have always been the perfect standard for brewing a delicious pot of tea, transforming it into a beautiful art form.
Every step in the tea-making process requires a tranquil mind. Leaving behind the fatigue and hustle and bustle of work and life, a moment of quiet beside a pot of fragrant West Lake lotus tea will be a healing balm for the soul. Sipping a cup of tea with some mung bean cake or some puffed rice is also a delightful suggestion for a more peaceful life.
West Lake lotus tea is not just a famous beverage; it embodies the tradition and soul of the people of Hanoi. Preserving and experiencing this refined pleasure is both a way to recall cherished bygone years and to create a serene and tranquil space for oneself.
