Protecting geographical indications for Shan Tuyet Na Hang tea products

The National Office of Intellectual Property has just granted a geographical indication registration certificate number 00104 for Shan Tuyet tea ‘Na Hang’.
This is the second geographical indication of Tuyen Quang province to be protected after the geographical indication of “Ham Yen”. The People’s Committee of Na Hang District is the organization managing this GI. Shan Tuyet Na Hang tea is a long-standing and famous product of Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province.

Tea trees grow naturally or are widely grown by farmers in places with an average altitude of 800-1,000 m above sea level, with a cool climate all year round, with an average annual humidity of 85%. Products when processed are black, greenish, grayish silver; When brewed, the tea has a bright green color, a mild acrid taste, and a clear sweet aftertaste when drinking. Na Hang is characterized by a mountainous district of Tuyen Quang province, the terrain is strongly dissected with many craggy high mountains and many valleys. Shan Tuyet tea growing communes are located at high altitude, in which, Hong Thai commune has the highest point above 1,200 m, so the content of tannin and soluble substances in Shan Tuyet Na Hang tea is high. Due to its high altitude, Na Hang district has a cool climate all year round, with an average annual humidity of 85%, a large temperature range of day and night (from 10-15 degrees Celsius). This difference is one of the favorable conditions for Shan Tuyet tea plants to metabolize and accumulate nutrients to create their own flavor. People in Khau Trang village, Hong Thai commune (Na Hang) harvest Shan Tuyet tea. Photo: Tuyen Quang Provincial Investment Promotion Center tỉnh The characteristics of Shan Tuyet Na Hang tea are not only due to the impact of topographical altitude and climate, but also due to the specific soil characteristics and production methods in the locality. Specifically, Shan Tuyet tea varieties put into cultivation in the geographical area are tea plants selected by competent authorities from the top varieties. Soil grown in Na Hang district has lower content of macronutrients and intermediates than soil in Yen Son district, the same province of Tuyen Quang. The content of macronutrients and intermediates in tea soil is low partly because the climate is cool all year round, so the weathering process of the soil is slowed down and partly because people only use organic fertilizers, not chemical fertilizers. The low nutrient and medium content in the soil, the plants absorb less and this is one of the reasons for not increasing the ash content in Shan Tuyet Na Hang tea (the lower the ash, the better the tea). The geographical area for Shan Tuyet tea includes the communes: Sinh Long, Thuong Giap, Thuong Nong, Hong Thai, Khau Tinh, Son Phu in Na Hang district. A geographical indication is a sign that refers to a product originating in a particular region, locality, territory or country. It can be words, names, signs, symbols, images used to indicate that the product originates in a country, territory or locality that is characterized by quality, reputation. , the reputation or other characteristics of this good are due primarily to its geographical origin. Through a geographical indication, it is possible to identify a particular geographical area associated with the quality, reputation and unique characteristics of the product that are available only in that place. Geographical indication protection brings many benefits, from economic development, promoting products of a region to protecting the interests of consumers.