Okay, I have a package of lotus tea. It's marked in big letters on the front "DAN TRA HOA SEN" which does mean Hoa Sen brand lotus tea, and it has a picture of a lotus on the front.
It also has some analytical info on the bottom that I cannot read: Chi tieu chat luong TCNV 1455-93 Ham luong chat tan >= 34% Ham luong tanin >= 20% Do am
To be frank, as I always am, whoever packaged the stuff more than likely assumed that the foreigners wouldn't know any difference. I remember when I was in one Chinatown or another, it was sort of that type of story all over the place. It is one reason as to why I am wary of buying stuff abroad.
Vietnamese tea from my experience can be marked almost anything. I have yet to taste one that would be worth detailed investigation. I like very much Chinese Lotus tea with actual lotus flowers but couple of Vietnamese ones I bought were to perfumy for me.
Sasha.
Che Xanh and Thai Nguyen are green teas that can be very good. I also once had a very good black/red tea that I think is called Stone Mountain.
/Lew
Whoops! I found my notes for that black/red tea. I liked it a lot when I drank it a couple of years ago, but it's called Marble Mountain.
/Lew
Lewis snipped-for-privacy@panix1.panix.com1/2/07 18: snipped-for-privacy@panix.com
And here's the link on Nothing But Tea's web page. Of one thing I'm quite sure: When Nigel's company advertises a tea as from a particular area or of a particular type, it undoubtedly is. He is intimately involved with the teas he sells.
Michael
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