105 ancient Snow Shan tea trees meet the criteria of Vietnamese Heritage Tree

Recently, the Vietnam Heritage Tree Council has a meeting to review the dossier and conclude that the population of 105 Snow Shan tea trees in Cho Chai village (Hoang Thu Pho commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province) had fully met the Vietnamese Heritage Tree criteria.

Previously, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment received an application from Mr. Nguyen Xuan Giang, the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Ha district, to recognize the population of 105 Snow Shan tea trees in Cho Chai village as Vietnamese Heritage Tree.

According to the regulations of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, the locality/institution will actively organize the ceremony, in order to recognize the Vietnamese Heritage Tree. The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment will issue a decision, a certificate of recognition and provide a standard design of the stone stele as a basis for local preparation.

The population of 105 ancient Snow Shan tea trees in Cho Chai village was 100 years old, determined by growth drilling and compared with similar populations of Snow Shan tea trees.

Located at an altitude of nearly 1,500 m above sea level, the climate of Hoang Thu Pho commune is similar to Sa Pa, the weather is cool all year round, cold rainy days, along with the thick fog which make faces blury. Also because of the suitable soil and climate, Snow Shan tea here is very delicious, when mixed it with water, it becomes green, dark, fragrant and has a sweet taste.

The commune still retains nearly 10 hectares of ancient Snow Shan tea, scattered in villages of Sin Cho 1, Sin Cho 2, Hoa Seo Chai, Ban Pai 1, Hoang Ha 1, and Hoang Ha 2. In which, Sin Cho 1 and Sin Cho 2 villages have the most ancient tea trees. Seen from a distance, the tea hill with its roots bigger than the arms of a person looks like a big wooden forest, with lush green leaves.

Hundreds of years old tea roots have been protected and preserved by the people as treasures, especially when the tea leaves are sold at high prices, providing a stable source of income. In recent years, the ancient Snow Shan tea forest has become one of the attractive destinations for many domestic and foreign tourists.