Developing the Long Coc Tea Brand

Long Coc is one of the communes with the largest tea-growing areas in Tan Son District. The lush, green tea hills here are a hallmark of the prosperity of the Fatherland tea region. In recent years, along with developing tourism linked to the tea hills, the local government has encouraged residents to gradually build the Long Coc tea brand into a signature product, leaving a lasting impression on visitors to this semi-mountainous area.

Pham Thi Hanh, Director of the Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative (HTX), shared that the cooperative was established in 2018 with 20 member households and currently has 37 hectares of tea plantations, of which 12 hectares are certified VietGAP. To ensure high-quality tea buds, cooperative members harvest the tea manually. The tea is handpicked in the early morning when the air is still moist (between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m.) to avoid direct sunlight, which could cause the tea to wilt and lose its sweetness. After harvesting, the tea is sorted and roasted several times at high temperatures to curl the leaves and dry the buds, while maintaining quality and preserving its distinct natural flavor. To improve productivity and the value of the product, the cooperative has invested in machinery and equipment for tea processing, with a capacity of 3-4 tons of fresh tea per day. This has provided stable employment for 10 regular workers, with monthly income ranging from 4 to 6 million VND per person.

Long Coc currently has over 680 hectares of tea ready for harvest, with an average yield of 148 quintals per hectare, and an estimated production of over 10,000 tons of fresh tea. To enhance the quality and economic value of tea, in addition to effectively implementing agricultural development policies from the province and district, local authorities have actively coordinated with specialized units to provide specific advice to local stakeholders. This has helped them complete documentation, register barcodes, traceability stamps, and develop the tea brand. Furthermore, various training programs have been organized to improve trade promotion skills, advertising, and the development of tourism products made from tea for tea producers and cooperatives in the area.

Currently, the commune has four OCOP tea products, including: Long Coc Premium Bat Tien Tea, Dinh Bat Tien Tea, Dinh Specialty Tea (OCOP 4 stars), and Shan Tuyet Tea (OCOP 3 stars), all produced by the Long Coc Safe Tea Cooperative. These products are widely consumed in most provinces and cities in the country and are available in supermarkets such as Winmart and Coopmart. Long Coc tea, when brewed, typically has a light green color and is very clear, offering a natural fragrance with a harmonious blend of bitterness, astringency, and sweetness, making it easy to drink with a deep aftertaste. With the attention of all levels of government, the efforts of local authorities and the people, Long Coc’s specialty tea products will continue to expand, bringing economic value and becoming a source of pride for the people in Tan Son’s mountainous commune.

Bich Ngoc