Today, local people are leveraging this advantage by adopting new methods, investing in processing equipment, and creating high-quality tea products that increase both market value and income. Local authorities have also drawn up specific plans to expand cultivation and make this specialty tea a key commercial product.

Affirming economic value

From the commune center, a narrow road wedged between cliffs leads to Hấu Chua village - the “capital” of ancient tea. Shrouded in mist even at 9 a.m., the 8km journey takes nearly 40 minutes. There, households live almost entirely under the canopy of ancient Shan Tuyết tea. Trees tower above rooftops, with trunks 80-100cm in diameter.

Among them, Mr. Hạng A Chư is the largest tea grower, tending over 650 ancient trees. “No one knows when the Sín Chải tea forest began, only that it has been here for generations,” he shared over a pot of fragrant tea. Initially, tea was used only for family consumption. From 2005, households began processing for sale, turning tea into a true commodity.

By 2008, after learning from other regions, Mr. Chư invested in machines for processing, moving beyond manual roasting. Today, his family supplies 200-300kg of dried tea annually, generating VND 200-300 million in stable income. “Compared to maize or rice, tea is far more valuable. One kilo of dried tea can fetch VND 1 million, while a ton of maize sells for only about VND 3 million,” he explained.

Other villagers, like Mr. Mùa A Chinh with over 100 ancient trees, have also expanded production and even purchased fresh leaves from neighbors, boosting community income. By the end of 2024, Sín Chải had 152 hectares of tea, including 6,600 ancient trees, yielding about 13 tons of dried tea each year.

A path toward sustainable growth

Learning from larger tea regions such as Thái Nguyên and Phú Thọ, Sín Chải growers realize their potential remains small in scale. “To attract enterprises, we must first expand our raw material area,” said Mr. Chư. His family alone planted an additional 1,600 trees in the past two years. Meanwhile, Mr. Chinh has developed 3 hectares of concentrated tea that is beginning to be harvested.

For its part, the commune Party Committee and authorities have identified Shan Tuyết tea as a strategic crop for poverty reduction and sustainable development. The commune aims to plant 10,000 new trees in the 2025-2030 term, alongside conserving and propagating native varieties. Local policies emphasize organic farming methods, environmental protection, and diversification of processed products.

The ancient Shan Tuyết tea trees, with their sturdy roots on rugged limestone slopes, are living proof of the resilience and determination of Sín Chải’s people. “My only wish is that one day Sín Chải tea will achieve the same success as the famous brands of Thái Nguyên or Phú Thọ,” said Mr. Chư, his voice tinged with both pride and longing. “I may not live to see it, but I hope future generations will preserve and develop our ancient tea forest, with strong support from the government to ensure it thrives and reaches far.”