Trà Đuôi Rồng Shan Tuyết Cổ Thụ
 
Harvest Location: Ta Xua Mountain, Vietnam
Cultivar: Shan Tuyet Ancient Trees
Elevation: 1700m
Harvest: Spring 2024
 
Harvested from ancient Shan Tuyết tea trees in the high mountains of Tà Xùa, Sơn La, this rare seasonal tea is composed of young branch buds—the earliest tender growths that emerge directly from the woody stems of old-growth trees before leaf expansion begins.
 
Locally known as Trà Đuôi Rồng (“Dragon Tail Tea”), the name reflects the distinctive shape of these fine, tapering branch buds, which resemble the curved tail of a dragon. This material is prized for its purity and intensity, capturing the concentrated vitality of the tree at its most dormant and resilient stage.
 
Sourced from semi-wild, ancient tea forests at high elevation, these buds develop slowly under cool mountain conditions, nourished by mineral-rich soils, persistent mist, and the deep ecological balance of the Shan Tuyết ecosystem. Harvested by hand in limited seasonal windows, they represent one of the rarest expressions of highland tea material.
 
Once steeped, the tea produces a pale golden infusion with exceptional clarity and lift. The aroma is high-toned and airy, unfolding in notes of wild mountain herbs, soft alpine florals, young forest wood, and delicate honey sweetness. The liquor is light yet structured, carrying a subtle cooling sensation and a long, clean mineral finish.
 
Unlike leaf-based teas, Trà Đuôi Rồng Shan Tuyết Cổ Thụ expresses a more ethereal profile—quiet, linear, and deeply energetic—reflecting the dormant power of ancient tea trees before spring flush.
A rare forest offering, this tea embodies stillness and renewal: the moment where mountain winter meets the first pulse of spring life in the highlands of northern Vietnam.