Ancient tea trees growing on Ha Giang mountain slopes

Connect with Centuries of Tea Heritage

Access Vietnam's ancient tea trees with complete provenance transparency. Each tea tells a story of generations, mountain landscapes, and sustainable partnerships.

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What This Program Offers You

Through our Heritage Tea Tree Program, you gain access to some of Vietnam's most remarkable tea trees—ancient specimens tended by ethnic minority communities for generations. Each tea comes with complete documentation: GPS coordinates of the specific trees, estimated age ranges, processing details, and the names of the families who harvested it.

You'll discover teas with depth and character that only centuries of growth can produce. These aren't mass-produced commodities but small-batch offerings from individual trees or small groves, each with its own personality shaped by specific mountain microclimates and traditional care methods.

Beyond the tea itself, you receive connection to places and people. When you brew these leaves, you're experiencing the terroir of Hà Giang's limestone peaks or Yên Bái's cloud forests, tended by hands that understand these trees as living partners in their landscape.

The Challenge of Finding Authentic Sources

You've probably encountered teas marketed as "ancient tree" or "wild mountain" without any real verification of their origin. Labels claim heritage, but the documentation stops there—no specific location, no harvest date, no connection to the actual people who grew it.

Perhaps you've felt the frustration of wanting to source responsibly but finding only vague assurances about fair practices. Or maybe you've wished for deeper understanding of Vietnamese tea culture beyond generic descriptions that could apply to any origin.

The gap between what you value—transparency, authenticity, meaningful relationships—and what's available in the market can feel discouraging. Language barriers, geographic distance, and complex supply chains make direct access seem impossible for individual buyers or small specialty shops.

Direct Access Through Documented Relationships

We've spent years building trust with tea-growing communities across Vietnam's northern provinces. Our approach centers on long-term partnerships where everyone benefits—the communities receive fair compensation, you receive exceptional tea with complete transparency, and the forests remain protected for future generations.

Each tea in our Heritage Program includes a detailed provenance file. You receive GPS coordinates that you can verify on any mapping service, photographs of the specific trees or groves, harvest dates, processing method descriptions, and contact information for the producing families. This isn't marketing fluff—it's genuine documentation.

We handle the complexity of language, logistics, and cultural navigation. You receive tea that has been carefully transported to maintain quality, along with brewing guidance specific to that varietal and processing style. The relationship with producers continues through our ongoing partnerships, so your purchase supports sustainable practices that extend beyond a single transaction.

How Working Together Unfolds

When you reach out to us, we start with a conversation about what you're seeking. Are you a specialty tea shop looking to offer customers something genuinely distinctive? A collector interested in rare varietals? Someone building knowledge of Vietnamese tea culture? Understanding your goals helps us recommend appropriate offerings.

We typically have a rotating selection of teas available based on seasonal harvests and limited quantities from specific trees. You'll receive detailed information about each option, including tasting notes, suggested brewing parameters, and the full provenance documentation. We're happy to send samples for evaluation before you commit to larger quantities.

After you place an order, we handle careful packaging and shipping to maintain quality. You receive your tea along with all documentation, brewing guidance, and our contact information for any questions. Many of our relationships with buyers develop over time as they explore different offerings across seasons and regions.

We stay in touch with our partner communities throughout the year, visiting during harvest seasons and maintaining ongoing communication. This means we can provide updates about the trees you've sourced from and connect you with the stories that continue to unfold in these mountain landscapes.

Understanding the Investment

$85 USD per 100 grams

Ancient tree grade teas from verified heritage sources

This pricing reflects several realities. The teas come from trees that produce limited quantities—ancient specimens don't yield the same volume as cultivated bushes. The communities receive compensation that supports their livelihoods without requiring them to over-harvest. And the documentation process involves time and care to ensure accuracy.

What you receive goes beyond the leaves themselves. You're gaining access to teas that tell stories, that connect you to specific places and people, that offer flavors and complexity that mass production cannot replicate. The complete provenance documentation allows you to share these stories with your customers or deepen your own understanding.

Your purchase supports sustainable forest management practices and provides income that helps ethnic minority communities maintain their traditional relationships with these mountain landscapes. The communities benefit directly, and the trees continue to be valued as living cultural heritage rather than resources to be exploited.

What's Included

  • 100 grams of verified ancient tree tea
  • Complete provenance documentation with GPS coordinates
  • Tree age estimates and grove information
  • Processing method details and harvest dates
  • Producer family information and community context
  • Brewing guidance specific to varietal and processing
  • Careful packaging to maintain quality during shipping
  • Ongoing support and access to seasonal updates

Minimum orders vary by availability and season, typically starting at 100 grams for individual buyers and 500 grams for wholesale accounts. We can arrange samples for evaluation before larger commitments. Payment terms are flexible and can be discussed based on your needs and order size.

How We Verify Quality and Authenticity

Our documentation process begins with on-site visits to every tea source. We photograph the trees, record GPS coordinates using standard mapping applications, and interview the families about cultivation and processing methods. This information becomes part of each tea's provenance file.

Tree age estimates come from conversations with elders in the communities who remember these trees from their childhood, combined with visual assessment of trunk diameter and growth patterns. While we cannot provide laboratory-verified ages, we offer ranges based on local knowledge and physical characteristics—for example, "estimated 200-300 years based on trunk circumference and community oral history."

Processing methods are documented through observation and explanation. We watch the withering, firing, or rolling processes and photograph the equipment and techniques used. This helps you understand what makes each tea's character distinctive and provides context for brewing recommendations.

Quality assessment happens through both traditional cupping methods and conversations with experienced tea drinkers. We look for clean processing, appropriate moisture levels, and flavor profiles that reflect the terroir and varietal characteristics. Each batch is evaluated before being offered to ensure it meets our standards for ancient tree grade.

Documentation Process

Every tea source is visited, photographed, and verified through direct observation and community interviews

Seasonal Availability

Offerings change based on harvest cycles, with spring and autumn typically providing the highest quality leaves

Timeline

From initial inquiry to receiving your tea typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on current availability and shipping location

Our Commitment to Your Satisfaction

We stand behind the authenticity of every tea we offer. If you receive a tea that doesn't match the documented source or quality description, we'll work with you to make it right—whether that means replacement, refund, or other resolution.

For first-time buyers, we encourage starting with sample quantities to evaluate the tea before committing to larger orders. This gives you the opportunity to assess quality, brewing characteristics, and whether the tea fits your needs without significant financial commitment.

We offer initial consultations at no charge to discuss your interests, answer questions about specific offerings, and help you understand what to expect. There's no obligation to purchase—these conversations help us serve you better and ensure that our program aligns with what you're seeking.

If at any point you feel uncertain or have concerns, we want to hear about it. Our relationships with buyers are built on transparency and trust, and we'd rather address questions openly than have you feel uncertain about what you're receiving.

How to Begin

1

Reach Out

Contact us using the form below or email [email protected]. Share a bit about what you're looking for—whether that's specific varietals, particular regions, or general interest in ancient tree teas.

2

Initial Conversation

We'll respond within two business days to set up a time to discuss current offerings. This conversation helps us understand your needs and share information about available teas.

3

Review Options

We'll send you detailed information about teas that match your interests, including provenance documentation, pricing, and availability. Take your time reviewing and ask any questions.

4

Start Your Order

When you're ready, we'll arrange payment and shipping. You'll receive tracking information and can reach out with any questions throughout the process.

What Happens Next

After placing your first order, you'll join our community of Heritage Program members. We send periodic updates about new harvests, seasonal availability, and stories from the mountain communities. You're welcome to stay as involved or as hands-off as suits your interests.

Many buyers develop favorite sources over time and request specific trees or families when placing subsequent orders. We maintain these relationships and can help facilitate ongoing connections between you and the producers you value.

Ready to Discover Ancient Tree Teas?

Let's talk about what you're seeking and how we might help you access Vietnam's heritage tea sources.

Start a Conversation

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