Spring 2023 Huey Wa

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This tea was made by Houngkeo, who worked with us during our missions in Laos. It is made of young tea trees planted around 2007 in the forests around the village. Despite being small, the trees grow in a natural environment on a good soil.

It is a simple tea that will carry you through the day. A good daily drinker in the Yiwu style. It is sweet and has a pleasant aroma. The processing was on the redder side, you’ll notice some level of oxidation.

Nyot Ou district, the hidden face of Yiwu tea

nyot ou town

Nyot Ou belongs to Phongsaly province, in Laos. It borders with Yiwu Mountain, in China.

china-laos border near yiwu

Considering the renown of Yiwu tea, and the high prices its tea fetch, it is not surprising that many tea traders cross the border to Laos and source tea from Nyot Ou district. As a result, most of the tea made in Nyot Ou is bought by tea producers from Yiwu.

Tea grows in the forests of Nyot Ou district along two valleys. The Southern valley is connected to Gua Feng Zhai village through a small road. The environment in which tea grows is similar in Eastern Yiwu and in the two tea producing valleys of Nyot Ou District. Ancient tea trees grow along more recently established gardens in the forests.

forest tea in laos

Laos tea is infamous for its poor processing. In the last couple of years, some tea farmers have improved their technique and upgraded their tea factories to meet the standards of Yiwu tea. The teas produced are of similar quality and offer a better value than proper Yiwu leaves.

The tea in this area is mostly made of large leaves with furry buds. It has a soft taste and features a great body feel. Experienced tea enthusiasts in China, especially in Guangdong Province, are always on the look for such teas, this is what made the reputation of Yiwu. At a first cup, the tea are not always impressive, but over the session, the Cha Qi builds up and makes you feel very relaxed.

yubai holding a tea leaf

We’ve worked in Nyot Ou area with a French NGO since 2018, our mission is to improve the tea quality made in the district. We’ve conducted training sessions on tea processing, and frequently give advice on tea garden management and factory set up.
training session in laos

We source tea from two farmers we worked with during our missions in Laos.

The mayor of Seo Pen, the village closest to Gua Feng Zhai, is experienced in the tea trade. He put efforts into improving the infrastructure of his village. He has build a good tea factory and studied puerh tea processing extensively. He collects a good part of the fresh leaves harvested in his village and processes them to a good standard.

Houngkeo works for the french NGO (Comite de cooperation du Laos), and is in charge of conducting training sessions on puerh tea processing. He goes back home every spring season to make tea in his village, Huey Wa, located in the Northern valley.

houngkeo training farmers

We’re happy to offer teas from Laos with a good processing, this region has a good potential and will increase in value as the infrastructure develops and renown increases.