Table of Contents
The Growing Of Snow Buds
Snow buds tea is an unique kind in Viet Nam for it’s speciality, in both flavour and the way it is made.
Snow buds tea is also known snow tea of Tra Viet comes from Ha Giang, a mountainous region from The North of Viet Nam.
If you take a close look, the color will catch your eyes at first sign. But what you might not know is the tea buds itself was already covered by white fluffy furs while it still on the tree. It is a self defence mechanism of the buds to survive harsh weather. In which those hundred years old tea trees have to plant it’s root deep down into the earth. In order to find nutrition to nourish itself and have to survive when the cold, the fog covers all year around.
The Speciality Of Snow Buds
The bud is beautiful but to keep all these white fluffy furs after the whole processing is a real challenge.
This high-class Snow buds from Ha Giang are not like other kinds. Instead of using “a shrimp-two leaves”, the farmer only pick “a shrimp”. It is the small buds on the shoot only. That must be the buds are sucking dew, on the leaves surface coated with a thin coating silver iridescent as snow. The infusion will yield a pale golden tea with mild flavour. That will gives a tea lover a good aftertaste and natural aroma float in the air.
Beside that, the shape of snow buds tea are curly and evenly round. While keeping the “snow” layer on the tea. We always require the tea producers who have a lot of experiences and skillful to produce good tea with keeping snow buds perfectly.
After the farmers pick the tea leaves, whether little or much, the tea makers will produce all day and night. The producer should coddle and work all the time until the tea markers finish a batch of tea. Only a small amount of negligence can spoil the whole batch of tea. So, tea producers have to put much effort to get a good teapot of snow tea.
Tea Types From Snow Buds Tea
– Basing on the processing, the producer can make : white tea, green tea, black tea and pu-erh tea.
How To Brew Snow Tea In A Professional Way
Water
Always use freshly drawn, cold water to prepare tea. Purified and spring water are best because they are relatively free from pollutants and other substances. It is also preferable for the water to have some natural minerals content to enhance the tea’s flavor.
Traditionally, in Asia, we always gently boil water before preparing tea. Boiling water eliminates many harmful germs and bacteria. You should heat the water until a steady stream of air bubbles gently rise to the surface.
Temperature
The perfect temperature to brew snow tea is around 90-95 degree.
Duration Of Infusion
Similar to water temperature, different kinds of tea need different lengths of time. Generally, delicate teas such as Snow tea preferable to be brewed for short times. Just wait about 10 to 12 seconds after you pour boiling water to the tea pot. You can also adjust the time, it still depends on your expected flavour.
Material Of Teapot