Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi

(VOVWORLD) - Lotus tea scenting is a meticulous art which requires tea makers to have experience, special techniques, and dedication. Lotus scented tea is a specialty of Hanoi. The harmony between the rich flavor of tea and the light fragrance of lotus from West Lake is a tourist attraction and the pride of the capital city. Let’s follow VOV’s reporter Tu Anh to discover the art of lotus tea scenting.

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 The process starts in the early morning.

Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 2Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 3 Lotuses must be picked before sunrise. The scenting process must be done quickly to maximize the freshness and lusciousness of the lotus scent.
Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 4 100-petal lotuses are ideal for tea scenting.
Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 5 People have to row slowly and carefully to avoid breaking the lotus. 
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 Lotuses are selected carefully.

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Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 8When the sun rises, the boat is full of lotuses.  
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June and July are the lotus season.

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The lotus petals are removed.

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Ho Tay lotus tea scenting – quintessence of Hanoi - ảnh 13 This must be done quickly in a closed room to keep the lotus‘ fragrance. 
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The stamens are used for scenting tea.

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It requires hundreds of lotuses to produce this amount of stamens.

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The remaining parts of the stamens are used as ingredients for medicine production.

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The scenting is repeated 5 – 7 times with one layer of tea over one layer of lotus stamens.

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The tea is scented for 3 days, then dried and scented again with the stamens.

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Drinking lotus scented tea is an art.

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