Vietnam Tea
Vietnam is one of the largest and oldest tea producers in the world. Tea has been grown in the country for over 2,000 years. As early as in the 11th century, tea was used as a symbol to convey the essence of Buddhism. And then, during period of the Tran Dynasty from the 13th to early 15th century, tea assumed a philosophical value for the Vietnamese. In the 15th century, the Vietnamese polymath Nguyen Trai (1380-1442) lived as a hermit, renouncing the outside world for a life of “tea, poetry and the moon”.
If in the past, tea has a special philosophical value for scholars and a long tradition in Vietnamese history, it now has its own place in the life of ordinary people living both in big cities or remote villages. Tea today is used to bind people together. It is popular from homes to sidewalk stalls for friendly chats among neighbors or friends. It is also popular in official conversation for a refresh mind and success ahead.
Vietnam Coffee
Known as the world’s biggest producer of Robusta coffee, Vietnam is considered the great place to enjoy a cup of coffee. With a taste of bitter and acrid tendencies, Vietnam coffee is different from coffee in other countries. Vietnamese coffee is prepared using a small metal drip filter, and is most commonly served over ice. You can’t walk a block of any street in the country and not see someone enjoying a coffee in one form or another.
There are many ways to enjoy a cup of coffee in Vietnam. At any stall, you may order cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) or cà phê đá (iced black coffee) of normal mode (coming with four or five teaspoons of supar) or “không đường” (no sugar) or “ít đường” (a little sugar).
