Why Tea from Northern Vietnam Is So Special

For many people, tea means China, Japan, or India – but few know that some of the world’s oldest tea trees grow in the far north of Vietnam. This is where the story of Lùm begins – in the remote mountains of Hà Giang.

In the highlands of northern Vietnam, Shan Tuyet tea trees thrive at altitudes above 1,000 meters. Many of these trees are decades to hundreds of years old. Their deep roots draw nutrients from the local soil, and their silvery buds are known for producing teas with a distinctive aroma and a clear, elegant taste.

Here, families from local mountain communities hand-pick each leaf on steep slopes, keeping alive a craft that has been passed down through generations.

Ha Giang’s mountain climate is a key part of what makes these teas taste different. Higher elevation, frequent mist, and strong day–night temperature changes can slow leaf growth. This often supports more complex aromas and a layered cup profile.

Processing is typically done in small batches. Timing matters: heat, oxidation, and drying are adjusted to highlight either floral notes, gentle sweetness, or a clean, lingering finish. If you are new to Vietnamese tea, try multiple short infusions. You’ll notice how the aroma and mouthfeel evolve from cup to cup.

Learn more about Shan Tuyet tea

Our tea comes directly from a local tea producer in Hà Giang, who collects hand-picked leaves from surrounding villages and processes them with care and tradition. By working directly with him – without industrial processing or middlemen – we keep the supply chain short and the product true to its origin.

Our teas are made without added flavorings or artificial additives. We focus on careful sourcing and traditional processing, so what you taste is the character of the leaf itself.

When we – Richard and Jesse – first traveled to Hà Giang, it wasn’t about business. We were welcomed by our now-partner farmer, his wife, and his son. We stayed in their home, shared meals, learned about the tea trees with the help of a translator, and simply connected as people. That meeting became the beginning of Lùm – not a calculation, but a friendship.

When you drink our tea, you’re tasting the origin – the mountains, the heritage, and the hands that picked every leaf.