Shan Tuyet (Snow Mountain)

Shan Tuyet is the Vietnamese ancient-tree wild Camellia sinensis population native to the Hoang Lien Son range in northern Vietnam. "Shan" means "mountain" (H'mong) and "Tuyet" means "snow" — a reference to the soft white pekoe-like fuzz covering the buds. The trees are large-leaf assamica-type, growing wild and unpruned at 800–2,000 m, naturally pesticide-free. Vietnamese government recognised 1,324 ancient Shan Tuyet trees as Heritage Trees in 2022. Three regions stand out for top quality: Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang), Ta Xua (Son La), and Suoi Giang (Yen Bai).