THEN, and meetings over a cup of tea
Some meetings begin with putting a kettle on the stove. While the water heats, people ask each other small things, choose cups and open the tea. When the tea is poured, the conversation finds room to continue.
THEN grew out of meetings like these. We work with Vietnam’s ancient-tree Shan Tuyet tea, both new and long-stored, bringing it into everyday cups, moments of discovery and gifts for people we care about.
The name THEN
The name THEN evokes the Then traditions of the Tày, Nùng and Thái communities in Vietnam. For us, it recalls the words “Thank Heaven and Earth” and respect for the people who care for the tea forests. We borrow the word as a reminder to enter the ancient tea forest with gratitude: taking nothing by force, showing nothing off, quietly appreciative.
In Vietnamese lacquer work, then is the name of black lacquer, the deepest colour on the craftsperson’s table. In English, “then” means “and after that”: a connection. And spoken aloud, THEN feels short, gentle and calm. A little Zen in small things: breaking off tea, pouring water, waiting for the fragrance to open.
We call it “Chè Bánh Việt”
THEN’s tea cakes are made from Vietnamese Shan Tuyet tea from Cao Bồ (Hà Giang) and Bắc Hà (Lào Cai). We call them “Chè Bánh Việt”: Vietnamese pressed tea.
For us, THEN Tea begins with gratitude to Heaven and Earth, and to the Vietnamese landscapes where these trees have lived through so many seasons. That gratitude takes a practical form: choosing carefully, keeping tea with care, and explaining where it comes from and how it has been stored.
From the tea to the person drinking it
Raw and ripe tea. Cakes, loose leaves and tea bags. Each offers a different way to enjoy tea, whether with a pot and cups or something simple at a desk. You can begin with a small pouch and take it from there.
We want to help you find a tea that suits you. Alongside its story, we give you its name, origin, method, storage year and the amount you will receive.
Time is something to explore
A year in a tea’s name invites questions: what does that year mean, and how has the tea been kept? We explain those details so you can make an informed choice.
What you find in the cup is yours. Notice the aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and what remains after you swallow. You need not arrive at the same answer as anyone else. A tea worth returning to is one you want to brew again another day.
The person who opened the way
In 1988, Mr Wong, from Hong Kong, travelled to Hà Giang in search of what was then simply called “Hà Giang tea”. He has stayed with Vietnam’s ancient forest tea ever since, quietly making and keeping it. THEN continues along the path he opened.
A quiet treasure
The quieter a treasure, the easier it can be to overlook. In Vietnam, we take pride in our agarwood, yet the ancient Shan Tuyet tea forests high in the mountains are less widely known. Some things close to home deserve to be understood and appreciated by the people who live here.
What THEN promises
To call things by their right name and tell the truth. To uphold the standards we can stand behind. To respect the forest and the people who care for it. And to do a little better each day.
Begin with a tea you are curious about. Brew it, drink it and keep your own impressions.
THEN Tea belongs to Hoàng Quang’s THEN Collective, alongside Am Trà Việt, JP Park (Japanese gardens) and HQ Architecture. Their shared purpose is simple: nurturing life through tea, nature and architecture.