Mr. Ngo Van Xiem is well known as one of the few artisans of Quang An village, Tay Ho district, Hanoi who still maintains the traditional craft of marinating lotus tea.
A life dedicated to the profession
Met Mr. Ngo Van Xiem on a morning in May. When it was still a bit foggy, Mr. Xiem brought back lotus flowers he had just picked from the lagoon. At that time, the family and workers quickly gathered to cup the petals. Everyone works quickly to get the pistil rice as quickly as possible. I don’t know when the craft of marinating lotus tea has existed in Hanoi, but he was born and raised with the family’s traditional lotus tea marinade from a young age. Mr. Siam said, until his son’s life, his family had 5 generations of making lotus tea. In the past, the old people only marinated tea to drink, treat friends and as gifts. When the market economy developed, many people came to lotus tea as a precious gift of Hanoi as a gift, the demand increased so he developed the family’s profession. 
Mr. Siam and his descendants separate the petals from the lotus. In order to have a stable source of lotus, Mr. Xiem rented 10,000 m2 of lagoon to cultivate cypress lotus. The lotus plant prefers clean soil and water to live. Therefore, the ingredients for marinating lotus tea are also clean. In the days of May, at the beginning of the season, the lotus pond blooms with about 1,000 – 2,000 flowers, only he and his descendants in the house do it. But in June and July, the lotus blooms, and there are days when up to 10,000 flowers bloom, his family has to hire workers to both pick lotuses under the lagoon and separate the petals at home. 
After separating and sieving, white lotus rice is obtained. If you want to marinate delicious lotus tea, you must not only know the profession but also understand the lotus. Because the lotus flower only gives the most fragrance when the petals have just opened. If the sun shines on the flower for a long time, the flower will quickly lose its scent, then marinated in tea will not smell anymore. Therefore, from 4 am, he and his family went to pick lotuses. The stage of separating the petals, sifting to get the rice of the pistil until the tea marinade must be finished before 12 noon, to ensure that the lotus flavor does not fly much. The tea selected to marinate lotus must be Thai Nguyen hook tea of the best quality. 
Marinate lotus rice into tea, then brew and dry. This stage must be repeated 3 times with 21 days to complete 1 batch of lotus tea. The process of marinating the tea is also very elaborate. In the house, the process of marinating lotus rice in tea can only be done by him. The rice of about 1,500 lotus flowers can only marinate 3kg of tea. To make lotus tea delicious, fragrant and fragrant, it must be marinated, brewed, dried, and repeated 3 times. Each marinade takes 3 days. Calculated that each batch of tea from marinating, brewing and drying the finished product takes 21 days. During the time of flower separation, tea marinating and drying, although it is very hot, do not turn on fans and air conditioners, which will make the lotus lose its fragrance. The lotus tea of Mr. Siam’s family was both clean and unique, so it was selected and allowed to serve at the US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi in 2019. After the conference, Mr. Siam was presented by the City People’s Committee. Certificate of Merit for achievements in serving at the Conference. Lotus tea – a gift of friendship Each stage to produce the finished product is a very meticulous tea lotus, if you do not see it with your own eyes, it is difficult for people to imagine. Therefore, each kilogram of lotus tea is currently selling for 7 million VND. In addition, Mr. Siam’s family also produces lotus tea. The price of each cotton ranges from 35,000-50,000 VND/cotton. Making lotus tea is very elaborate, but enjoying the tea must also be done properly to see all the aroma and fullness of the tea. The teapot must be an earthenware pot, without a glossy glaze. Small kettle, buffalo eye cup. After putting the tea into the teapot, rinse it with hot water, then pour the water into the tea and steep for 3-5 minutes to infuse. 
Mr. Siam also marinated tea in lotus flowers. Drinking lotus tea, if you hurry, you will not see the full flavor of the tea. When the tea is poured into the cup, before enjoying the tea, you must bring it to your nose to inhale each breath, enjoying the scent of lotus mixed with the tea. When drinking, also take small sips, hold the tea in your mouth and swallow slowly into your throat. Drinking lotus tea with relatives, confidants, even just a passerby who wants to hear a conversation about the profession makes people closer together and realizes the full taste of tea. Ms. Dao Thi Hue, from Gia Lam, works at Tay Ho Tourism Company. Previously, she still brought guests here to buy tea and enjoy tea with Mr. Siam’s family. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, she has not had the opportunity to bring guests here. But when the lotus blooms, she misses flowers, misses lotus tea, and sometimes goes to Mr. Siam’s house to drink and hear about tea. She shared: “Uncle Siam’s lotus tea is made in the traditional way, so it is very delicious and full of aroma. After drinking, it has a bitter and sweet taste. I have bought tea from Uncle Siam’s house many times as a gift on Tet, holidays, weddings and engagements. In particular, tourists love the lotus tea of Uncle Siam’s family because its delicious quality is second to none.” 
Enjoying lotus tea must be slow, take it up to inhale and sip small sips to see all the delicious taste of Tay Ho lotus tea. Lotus tea has become a specialty of Hanoians that has entered the subconscious of many people in the capital and tourists near and far. Not only is it a simple drink, but it is also imbued with the culture and sophistication of the Ha Thanh people, a precious gift for those who travel far to remember the ancient land. Because of that, despite the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, the development of information technology has bridged the gap between tea makers and customers in all parts of the country and even abroad. People who remember lotus tea still order by phone or online for business or as a gift. West Lake lotus blooms only one season a year, but the fragrance of West Lake lotus-marinated tea through the hands of Siamese artisans has gone everywhere, connecting people and connecting business bridges with Hanoi.
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