Mong people in Pa Co escape poverty thanks to century-old 'treasure'

TPO - At an altitude of over 1,200 meters above sea level, Pa Co commune (Phu Tho province) is covered with clouds all year round and has a cool climate, making it an ideal place for Shan Tuyet tea to grow. This place still preserves about 1,300 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, many of which are hundreds of years old, considered "treasures" of the mountains and forests and the pride of the Mong people.

Báo Tiền Phong•24/09/2025

Tea trees help Pa Co people have a prosperous life.

From traditional products to the "green gold" of the mountains and forests

Pa Co people still tell each other the story of the golden-billed Phoenix bird that once ate tea berries on the high mountains. When it flew over this land, it dropped seeds, which then grew into a vast Shan Tuyet tea forest. No one knows exactly when the tea trees were first planted, but they have been there for a long time, attached to the lives of many generations.

Mr. Song A Tenh, Pa Co 1 hamlet said: “The tea tree has been here since our ancestors’ time, its trunk is as big as an adult’s arm, mottled with traces of time. I take care of it, prune it to create a canopy, so each harvest, one tree yields the equivalent of dozens of newly planted tea trees.”

For the Mong people, tea trees not only bring income but also childhood memories and village culture. Mr. Phang A Gang in Cha Day hamlet recalls: “When I was a child, these tea trees were standing there. Our childhood was spent following our parents climbing trees to pick buds, then gathering around cast iron pans to manually roast tea. The sweet and astringent taste of tea has permeated our blood and flesh, becoming the flavor of our homeland.”

Pa Co commune currently has 1,300 ancient tea trees over 100 years old.

The ancient tea trees with moss-covered trunks and branches do not need elaborate care, but quietly stretch out in the mountain mist, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to produce premium Shan Tuyet tea buds, with a very unique mild astringency and deep sweetness.

Previously, Shan Tuyet tea was mainly picked and roasted by hand by local people. But in the past 5 years, the value of this tea has been recognized in a more systematic and strategic way. The participation of local and business people has created an important turning point in the consumption of tea products. In particular, local businesses have built processing factories with a capacity of 5 tons of fresh buds per day, forming a chain of products for local people.

Thanks to that, ancient tea trees are no longer just traditional crops, but have become a significant source of income, contributing to improving people's lives. Along with that, the newly planted tea area has also been expanded by 80 hectares, creating a more solid position for the Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea brand.

According to Mrs. Giang Y Dua, President of the Farmers’ Association of Pa Co Commune, the natural conditions here create a special flavor for Shan Tuyet tea. “The quality of tea depends a lot on the altitude and climate. Pa Co has ideal conditions to produce premium products with a rich flavor that cannot be found anywhere else,” Mrs. Dua shared.

Sustainable direction from conservation to experiential tourism

In 2019, Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea products were certified with 4-star OCOP at the provincial level. This is considered an important passport to help Pa Co tea brand reach out to large markets, affirming the position and value of local products.

Realizing the great potential of the ancient tea forest, the government and people of Pa Co are completing the dossier to request recognition of the Shan Tuyet tea population as a Vietnam Heritage Tree. Mr. Sung A Chênh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Pa Co commune, said: "The recognition is not only meaningful in preserving precious genetic resources, but also a strategic step to build Pa Co into a unique and attractive tourist destination on the Northwest tourism map".

In fact, in recent years, the hundred-year-old tea forest has become an interesting stop on the “cloud hunting” tours in Pa Co. Visitors come here not only to enjoy hot tea in the misty space, but also to pick young tea buds and participate in the tea roasting process with the locals.

This agricultural tourism model brings many values: helping tourists have authentic experiences, helping local people have more livelihoods, and is also the most vivid way to promote local culture and products.

The ancient Shan Tuyet tea forest in Pa Co is the crystallization of nature and the efforts of preservation through many generations. Hundreds of years have passed, the tea trees still stand there silently, both nurturing material life and being historical witnesses, preserving the cultural identity of the Mong people.

“Today, when the market economy opens up many opportunities, awakening and promoting the potential and value of tea trees is the way for Mong people in Pa Co commune to develop sustainably. Tea trees not only help people escape poverty, but can also help them get rich right on their homeland,” said Mr. Sung A Chênh.