Bat Tien Tea from Long Coc – A Fragrant Specialty of the Ancestral Land

Bat Tien tea is a variety originally imported from Taiwan and crossbred with local tea strains to better adapt to Vietnam’s climate. After being piloted and expanded across tea-growing regions in Phu Tho, thanks to favorable soil and climate conditions, the plants have thrived and developed a uniquely distinctive flavor found nowhere else.

Tea is considered a key agricultural product in Long Coc Commune.

Long Coc’s Bat Tien tea plants are medium-sized, upright in form, with sparse branches. The leaves are light green with clearly serrated edges, medium in length, and slightly pointed tips. The dried tea leaves are small, curly, and covered in fine white hairs. The young tea buds are pale purple with a slight layer of down. At 4–5 years old, the tea bushes typically have a canopy spread of over 1 meter. Bat Tien tea stalks are smaller and firmer than other varieties, and while the tea tips also bear white fuzz, it is less dense compared to Shan Tuyet tea.

The brewed tea has a green hue and a fragrant aroma, with a harmonious balance of bitterness, astringency, and sweetness—making it more palatable than many traditional teas. Moreover, Bat Tien tea can be steeped multiple times (typically 3–4 brews). With its refreshing taste, light astringency, lingering sweetness, and thirst-quenching properties, Bat Tien tea is well loved by many people.

Today, Bat Tien tea from Long Coc is produced using advanced technology combined with traditional techniques, resulting in products that excel in both quality and presentation. This has earned the brand a growing reputation among consumers far and wide.

Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative currently has four products certified under the OCOP program, including Long Coc Premium Bat Tien Tea and Bat Tien Dinh Tea, both rated 4 stars.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Hanh – Director of Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative – the cooperative has 15 members cultivating 16 hectares of tea following VietGAP standards. Of this, 7 hectares are dedicated to Bat Tien tea, while the rest includes varieties such as San Tuyet, Huong Bac Son, Phuc Van Tien, and Kim Tuyen. To improve overall product quality—especially Bat Tien—the cooperative not only adheres to VietGAP in planting and caring for the crops, but also places great emphasis on production and processing techniques. Specifically, tea buds are withered after picking to remove surface moisture, then heat-treated in a rotating drum to

deactivate enzymes. The leaves are then rolled to shape and reduce bitterness, followed by the first drying. Once a desired dryness is reached, the tea is sifted to remove fine particles, then undergoes a second drying to enhance its aroma. During this stage, maintaining low and even heat is crucial to ensuring the tea’s quality and avoiding scorching.

Thanks to this meticulous process, products from Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative are consistently praised by customers. At present, the cooperative has four OCOP-rated products, three of which hold a 4-star ranking: Long Coc Premium Bat Tien Tea, Bat Tien Dinh Tea, and Specialty Dinh Tea. In the first half of this year alone, the cooperative produced over 4 tons of tea, generating more than 800 million VND in revenue.

Clearly, tea plants in Long Coc, nurtured by the land and climate, have grown lush and robust—becoming not only a deeply rooted crop but also a source of economic value for local residents. Among them, the Bat Tien tea variety has become a famous brand known to many people.

Vinh Ha