Students from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) hosted a cultural exchange centered on the Pukeng Tea with their peers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) at Vietnam National University in Hanoi recently.
The Pukeng Tea is a specialty from Shitan Town in Qingyuan, a city in northern Guangdong Province.
The visiting GDUFS research team engaged with nearly 30 faculty members and students from the USSH Department of Linguistics and Department of Oriental Studies, taking the Pukeng Tea as a medium to foster in-depth cross-cultural dialogue through cinematic storytelling and hands-on brewing experiences.
The GDUFS team showed the Vietnamese students a documentary, tracing the journey from remote tea gardens to modern industrial revitalization.
The Chinese students also introduced the Liubao tea and Pu'er tea, while Vietnamese students presented the unique charms of Shan Tuyet tea from the northwestern highlands and the famous green tea of Thai Nguyen.
Despite the differences in flavor profiles, the participants found common ground in the cultural significance of tea. A Vietnamese student noted that while Pukeng Tea offers a distinct initial bitterness followed by a lingering sweetness, it shares the same spirit of companionship that tea provides in daily Vietnamese life.
Practical engagement followed the discussions, with members of the research team demonstrating traditional brewing techniques. Vietnamese students were invited to perform the rituals themselves, experiencing firsthand the sensory journey from the tea’s earthy aroma to its layered aftertaste.
By transforming research findings into an international cultural showcase, the students have ensured that the legacy of Guangdong's Pukeng Tea continues to thrive, demonstrating that even a single leaf can carry the story of rural revitalization and foster cross-boder friendship.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
