In a fast-changing world, artisans in Hanoi continue to preserve the traditional craft of scenting tea with West Lake lotus flowers.

In a fast-changing world, artisans in Hanoi continue to preserve the traditional craft of scenting tea with West Lake lotus flowers. More than an elegant beverage, West Lake lotus tea embodies generations of traditional knowledge, skilled craftsmanship and cultural values. Efforts to sustain the craft are helping bring this distinctive part of Viet Nam’s intangible cultural heritage to wider audiences at home and abroad.

Dry tea leaves are prepared to scent with lotus rice by traditional methods.  Photo: Khanh Long/ VNP

Across West Lake’s lotus ponds, flowers are carefully selected in the early morning to capture their purest fragrance. They are an essential ingredient in a tea deeply rooted in Hanoi’s culinary heritage.

The West Lake lotus ponds have supplied the hundred-petal lotuses used in Hanoi’s traditional lotus tea. Photo: Khanh Long/ VNP

 

The craft dates back hundreds of years and is closely associated with West Lake, renowned for its fragrant, hundred-petal lotus flowers. Making high-quality lotus tea involves a labor-intensive process, from harvesting flowers at dawn and separating the stamens, known as lotus rice, to scenting and drying the tea over several days. Thousands of flowers may be needed to produce just one kilogram of finished tea, demanding patience, precision and years of experience.

More than a traditional trade, lotus tea making reflects the refinement of Vietnamese tea culture. Each cup brings together the fragrance of nature and the skills passed down through generations, giving West Lake lotus tea a special place in Hanoi’s cultural life.

Lotus tea makers select high-quality hundred-petal lotuses directly from the ponds for the traditional tea-scenting process. Photo: Khanh Long/ VNP

 

However, urbanization and changing consumer preferences are putting the craft under pressure. Lotus-growing areas are shrinking, raw materials are becoming harder to source, and production remains time-consuming and labor-intensive. The growing availability of industrially flavored teas has added to these challenges.

To keep the tradition alive, artisans and producers are adapting while maintaining traditional methods. They are promoting lotus tea through cultural events, festivals, hands-on activities and digital platforms. Visitors from Viet Nam and abroad can watch the production process, learn about the craft’s history and experience the cultural heritage associated with West Lake.

Harvested lotuses are quickly transported to production facilities to preserve their natural fragrance. Photo: Khanh Long/ VNP

A traditional family workspace for manual lotus tea scenting process.  Photo: Khanh Long/ VNP

Introducing lotus tea making at schools, cultural venues and tourism programs can also help younger generations appreciate its value and develop a sense of responsibility for preserving traditional crafts.

 

Today, West Lake lotus tea remains both a Hanoi specialty and a cultural ambassador for Viet Nam. Whether served at diplomatic receptions and festivals or enjoyed by international visitors, each cup tells a story of craftsmanship, cultural continuity and national pride.

Families pass down traditional lotus tea-scenting secrets through generations, preserving the craft as part of Hanoi’s intangible cultural heritage. Photo: Khanh Long/VNP

 

Preserving this centuries-old craft requires the collective efforts of artisans, communities and younger generations. As long as the fragrance of West Lake lotus continues to infuse each cup, this treasured part of Hanoi’s cultural heritage will live on and reach audiences around the world.

By Khanh Long/VNP