Bringing the flavor of Phu Tho tea to the world

As one of the provinces with the largest tea-growing areas in Vietnam, Phu Tho is implementing key solutions to build a reputable tea brand. From production planning and applying scientific and technological advances to protecting intellectual property, the province is steadily elevating the profile of Phu Tho tea—bringing its unique flavor to both domestic and international markets.

Phu Tho currently has over 10,000 hectares of tea certified for safe production.

Enhancing brand and quality

Established in 2018, the Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative in Tan Son District has partnered with nearly 30 tea-growing households cultivating nearly 40 hectares. Over 10 hectares of this area are VietGAP-certified, and the remaining land is also maintained under VietGAP standards. The cooperative’s products are in high demand, particularly during major provincial events. For example, during the Hung Kings Temple Festival and the recent Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week, the cooperative experienced overwhelming sales, with not a single kilo of tea left unsold.

Despite this success, Ms. Pham Thi Hanh, Director of the Cooperative, expressed concerns about the stability of input materials. “Selecting raw tea is crucial,” she said. “Only high-quality fresh leaves can produce excellent tea that satisfies consumers. Although we are located in one of the largest tea-growing areas in the province and the country, we still face occasional shortages of qualified raw materials. We are encouraging local farmers to adopt VietGAP standards, ensuring brand integrity and preventing counterfeit products that could harm the reputation and certification mark of Phu Tho tea.”

Tea is not only a daily beverage deeply rooted in Vietnamese cultural life but also a key source of income for Phu Tho farmers—reviving barren hills and opening up new economic opportunities. In today’s market economy, tea and tea-based products are asserting themselves as high-potential commodities. From lush green hills, fresh tea leaves are transformed into a wide range of products: premium loose-leaf teas, bottled drinks, instant tea, and even bioproducts. This diversification not only increases added value but also generates jobs and fosters local economic growth.

However, inconsistent awareness among farmers, outdated cultivation methods, low productivity, and fragmented small-scale operations—combined with weak linkages to processing facilities and consumer markets—have led to unstable pricing and limited competitiveness. As a result, tea prices often fail to reflect the product’s true value and potential.

Recognizing the importance of branding, Phu Tho has in recent years paid close attention to building and protecting the identity of its tea products. In 2020, the province secured a certificate of protection for the Phu Tho Tea certification trademark—an important milestone in standardizing quality and origin. To date, 15 organizations, businesses, and cooperatives have been authorized to use the trademark. The province now boasts 13,600 hectares of tea, producing nearly 180,000 tons in 2024, with over 10,000 hectares certified for safe production.

Phu Tho’s High-Quality Agricultural and Forestry Product Development Plan for 2021–2025 has significantly enhanced traceability, quality control, and market competitiveness, with many tea products achieving 3- to 5-star ratings under the OCOP (One Commune One Product) program.

To align with sustainable development goals, in 2021, the Provincial People’s Committee launched a plan to develop the Phu Tho Tea certification trademark for the 2021–2025 period. After five years, results have been promising: product consumption has stabilized, prices and competitiveness have improved, and 100% of certified tea products are traceable and strictly monitored for quality and food safety. Eighteen green tea products have achieved OCOP ratings of 3 stars or higher, including two 5-star products. Enterprises and cooperatives have raised the value and competitiveness of their products, forming complete tea production and consumption chains.

A delegation from the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance recently visited and exchanged experiences at the Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative.

Spreading the flavor of Phu Tho tea

To further promote the Phu Tho tea brand, authorities at all levels have implemented a comprehensive set of activities to raise awareness, provide training, support businesses, and boost product promotion.

The Department of Science and Technology launched the initiative “Supporting the application of science and technology to enhance value and sustainability and promote OCOP tea products bearing the Phu Tho Tea certification mark.” Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has promoted production linkages and developed concentrated tea cultivation areas to facilitate the implementation of standardized technical processes and mechanization. Through its industrial promotion program, the Department of Industry and Trade has supported two enterprises—Hoai Trung Tea Co., Ltd. and Duc Tuan Tea Co., Ltd.—in adopting advanced machinery and scientific innovations to improve product quality and drive socio-economic benefits.

In addition to boosting production, Phu Tho’s scenic tea-growing areas—such as Long Coc, My Thuan, Thanh Son, and Thanh Thuy—have been introduced as tourism destinations. These locations offer unique experiences for visitors to explore the province’s tea culture. Cooperatives with OCOP-rated products (3 stars or higher) have received support to upgrade product packaging and design, improve quality, and develop souvenir products tailored to tourists. These efforts aim to position Phu Tho tea as a well-loved and sought-after gift nationwide and support businesses in participating in trade promotion activities.

Thanks to this comprehensive support, tea businesses and cooperatives have increased product value, strengthened brand identity, expanded market reach, and improved production capacity—key factors in today’s globally competitive economy. So far, the province has established 25 production-consumption linkage chains, with several regions partnering with enterprises to boost product efficiency by 15–20% compared to traditional methods.

Mr. Khong Danh Dat, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, stated that the Department will continue working closely with relevant agencies and localities to promote the Phu Tho Tea certification mark and products. “We will provide ongoing guidance to enterprises and cooperatives to strictly comply with technical regulations in production, processing, and brand management,” he said. “At the same time, we’ll support technology adoption to improve productivity and quality, facilitate participation in trade promotion, and enhance inspection and control efforts to ensure that products bearing the Phu Tho Tea mark meet all criteria for origin, quality, and food safety—contributing to the sustainable development of the province’s tea industry.”

Le Hoang