STANDARD GIFT BOX – SHAN TUYẾT ANCIENT GREEN TEA WITH WHITE LOTUS: NGỌC KHIẾT (BAMBOO BOX)

General Introduction: The full name of this tea is Băng Thanh Ngọc Khiết, as it is crafted from Băng Thanh green tea (a premium green Shan Tuyết tea from ancient trees in Hà Giang) and the delicate lotus heart (the fragrant stamens, or lotus grains, from the lotus blossom). In folklore, Ngọc Khiết is also known as Heavenly Ancient Fragrance — referring to a tea that has undergone an exquisitely intricate scenting process, carefully drawing the fragrance from lotus grains through multiple rounds of scent infusion.

Due to the rarity of the raw materials and the highly demanding, meticulous crafting process — one that requires strict attention to every detail — only a very limited quantity of Ngọc Khiết tea can be produced each year. The result is a tea that carries the vigorous energy of wild Shan Tuyết green tea, grown in special mountainous terrains, combined with the ethereal purity of Hue lotus blossoms. The experience it offers is one of delicate, refined elegance, with lingering depth: at once near yet distant, familiar yet otherworldly.

Ingredients & Craftsmanship: To perfect Ngọc Khiết Lotus-Scented Tea, Hiên Trà Nhị Độ Mai carefully selects wild, premium-grade Shan Tuyết green tea plucked at the auspicious time of Tiền Minh (early spring) from two pristine regions: Lũng Phìn in the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau and Túng Xán in Hoàng Su Phì, Hà Giang.

Once processed, the tea is paired with pure-bred Vietnamese lotus varieties, grown naturally, most notably the ancient Hue lotus cultivated in the sacred ponds of Tịnh Tâm Lake and the Imperial Citadel (Đại Nội) — sites chosen not only for their imperial heritage but also for their blessed geomantic qualities, which yield lotus flowers with fragrance surpassing all other regions.

Yet having the finest raw materials — the “favorable heaven and earth” — is not enough. True mastery requires “human harmony.” Dr. and Tea Artisan Trần Thị Thanh Nhị, founder of Hiên Trà Nhị Độ Mai and the fourth-generation heir of a family dedicated to the study and art of scented teas since the Nguyễn Dynasty, has inherited ancestral wisdom and combined it with her own research and mastery to craft this rare scented tea.

The term “luyện hương” (fragrance infusion) was coined by our team to describe the meticulous, mindful process required to produce a cup of tea with enduring sweetness and fragrance. Every stage — from selecting raw materials, flowers, layering, infusing, scenting, drying, resting, sifting, and storing — is done with absolute care and full-hearted attention. Following secret recipes and time-honored techniques, the tea is scented not once but multiple times, layer after layer, until the fragrance deeply permeates every tea leaf, achieving a perfect union of tea and lotus, seamlessly aligned in both aroma and flavor.

Through this multi-stage process, we create a sophisticated, multi-dimensional scent symphony, with layered aromatic and taste notes that evolve across each infusion, offering connoisseurs an unforgettable sensory journey. Remarkably, some pots of Ngọc Khiết tea still reveal persistent, lingering lotus notes even after the tenth steeping.

The Essence of Harvest: The best lotus is harvested mid-summer, when the flowers reach peak maturity. Before dawn, around 4–5 a.m., under the soft morning mist at Tịnh Tâm Lake or Đại Nội, harvesters gently paddle their boats and carefully pluck each lotus blossom in its perfect hàm tiếu stage — the half-open moment when fragrance is most concentrated. The stamens (lotus grains) are then delicately extracted by hand, a task requiring great skill and speed to capture the fragrance at its most vibrant without damaging the fragile scent sacs.

Huế lotus, known for its subtle, ethereal aroma, must be infused into the tea through repeated scenting cycles. The process includes one round of floral balance infusion, six rounds of deep grain scenting, and a final round of whole-flower refreshing scenting, followed by eight stages of gentle drying. The layering and resting times are carefully adjusted depending on weather, tea leaf quality, and fragrance absorption. Over 30 days, under favorable dry conditions, one batch of Ngọc Khiết tea is slowly, lovingly completed.

To produce just 1 kilogram of finished Ngọc Khiết tea, an astonishing 1,600 to nearly 2,000 lotus blossoms are required (depending on annual weather and bloom conditions). Few teas in the world demand such intricate care and finesse. Every individual involved — from tending the lotus, harvesting, petal and grain separation, scenting, airing, drying, to final sifting — pours their heart into crafting this “Heavenly Ancient Fragrance.”

Brewing Recommendations:
Step 1 – Warm the Teaware: Rinse the teapot and cups with hot water to evenly warm and sanitize them.
Step 2 – Brew the Tea: Skip the “awakening rinse,” as both the tea and lotus come from pristine, naturally cultivated sources. Use water at 85–90°C. Steep 5–8 grams of tea in 180 ml of water for 30–45 seconds, then pour out the entire infusion into a decanter before distributing into cups. Do not leave the tea sitting in the water; instead, enjoy fully and brew subsequent rounds.
Step 3 – Savor the Experience: For the first round, set aside conversation and fully attune your senses to the lotus fragrance. Relax, hold the cup gently, inhale the rising aroma, take a delicate sip to let the tea wash over your tongue, breathe deeply and evenly, savoring the lingering sweetness in the mouth. The second sip, taken slightly larger, will spread the tea across both the upper and lower palate, allowing the lotus aroma to rise into the throat, enveloping the senses. Finish the final sip to confirm the after-aroma, then raise the empty cup to enjoy the lingering scent left in the cup’s bottom. Guests may adapt their brewing style to find their own moment of balanced stillness, embracing the spirit of tea as a gateway to a serene, transcendent realm.

Storage & Shelf Life: To best preserve your Ngọc Khiết scented tea: avoid sunlight; keep away from moisture; store apart from strong-smelling foods. With proper storage, the tea’s fragrance and flavor will remain vivid for 2–3 years.

The Spirit of Ngọc Khiết Ngọc Khiết tea from Hiên Trà Nhị Độ Mai carries within it the winter’s resilience from the frost-covered peaks where the tea buds endured harsh conditions to accumulate life force; the spring’s vitality when fresh, fragrant ancient forests burst into bloom; the summer’s rich lotus fragrance from sacred lands; and the autumn’s gathered energy as the tea, finished in summer, is rested, mellowed, and infused with the essence of all four seasons.

Hiên Trà remains ever inspired to honor and elevate the beauty and lyrical soul of Vietnamese lotus, especially the noble Hue lotus, on a foundation of wild, ancient Shan Tuyết tea. We are devoted to bringing into your cup the graceful spirit of Hue’s elegant charm, the delicate blend of gentle softness and profound contemplation — from hidden depths to soaring heights — all set against the vast, fierce, and mineral-laden backdrop of the great northern highlands.

Hiên Trà Nhị Độ Mai’s Ngọc Khiết Lotus-Scented Tea is a living continuation of Vietnam’s traditional tea heritage, thoughtfully reimagined for the modern world and future generations. It harmonizes the energy of Spring – Summer – Autumn – Winter, the alignment of Heaven – Earth – Humanity, and the distilled essence of nature and craftsmanship — making it a precious gift for both personal enjoyment and heartfelt offering.