Tiếng Việt
When researching golden camellia tea, many people look for growing regions with OCOP certification (Vietnam’s “One Commune One Product” program) as a marker of credibility — Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, and Vinh Phuc all have golden camellia products with OCOP certification. So what about Gia Lai golden camellia tea? This article answers that question directly.
KINKA’s Gia Lai Golden Camellia Tea Has 4-Star OCOP Certification
The answer is yes. In 2023, Gia Lai golden camellia tea under the KINKA brand (part of Truong Duong Group) was recognized with 4-star OCOP certification, becoming a flagship product of the local region. In 2024, KINKA was further recognized among Vietnam’s Top 10 National Brands.
What Is OCOP, and Why Does This Certification Matter?
OCOP (One Commune One Product) is a rural economic development program run by the Vietnamese government, designed to encourage localities to develop signature products that meet standards for quality, production process, packaging, and traceability. OCOP products are evaluated and rated on a scale from 3 to 5 stars, based on criteria including product quality, manufacturing capability, brand story, and commercial viability.
Earning 4-star OCOP status isn’t just a label — it reflects a fairly comprehensive evaluation process, covering everything from the raw-material growing region and cultivation process to processing, production organization, and the product’s connection to its local origin.
The Journey to OCOP Certification
Unlike some golden camellia growing regions that have existed naturally for generations, the Gia Lai growing region (developed by Truong Duong Group and Tam Phuc Minh, with tea later sold under the KINKA brand) is a deliberately built project dating back to 2017, located around the extinct Chu Dang Ya volcano and the Bien Ho (Sea Lake) area — at 600-800m elevation, on mineral-rich red basalt soil, following a “forest first, tea second” cultivation model with no chemical fertilizers.
This deliberate investment in the growing region, the natural, low-intervention cultivation model, and the processing method (freeze-drying at -40°C/-40°F to preserve nutrients) were among the factors that helped the product earn 4-star OCOP certification within just a few years of building the growing region.
(Learn more about the growing region and cultivation model in: “What Climate and Soil Does Gia Lai Golden Camellia Tea Grow In?“)
How Does It Compare to Other OCOP Growing Regions?
Vietnam currently has several golden camellia growing regions with OCOP certification, notably Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh) and some products from Quang Ninh and Vinh Phuc. Each region has its own advantages tied to local character — Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh are longer-established growing regions in the north, while Gia Lai is an emerging Central Highlands region, with its own advantages in its regenerated-forest cultivation model and characteristic highland red basalt soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 4-star OCOP the highest rating? No. The current OCOP scale runs from 3 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest (typically reserved for products with export potential). 4-star OCOP is a high rating, reflecting a product that meets quality and production-process criteria well at the local/regional level.
Does KINKA’s Gia Lai golden camellia tea have any other certifications? Beyond 4-star OCOP (2023), the product was also recognized among Vietnam’s Top 10 National Brands (2024). Its quality and active-compound content have also been examined through research collaborations with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City.
Where can I buy KINKA’s OCOP-certified Gia Lai golden camellia tea? You can order through kinka.vn, Shopee (KINKA Tea Shop), TikTok Shop, or contact the hotline for assistance.
Conclusion
KINKA’s Gia Lai golden camellia tea officially earned 4-star OCOP certification in 2023, the result of a deliberately built growing region dating back to 2017 around Chu Dang Ya and Bien Ho. This is one of the concrete markers of the product’s quality and credibility, alongside the story of its growing region and distinctive natural cultivation model.
Continue reading: Gia Lai Golden Camellia Tea (KINKA): The Complete Guide to Benefits, Brewing & Where to Buy | What Climate and Soil Does Gia Lai Golden Camellia Tea Grow In? | Gia Lai vs. Ba Che & Ninh Binh: How Vietnam’s Golden Camellia Growing Regions Compare | Why Was Chu Dang Ya, Gia Lai Chosen to Develop a Medicinal Herb Region? | The History of the French-Era Bien Ho Tea Plantation
KINKA – Experience Every Drop of Happiness (A brand of Truong Duong Group)
- Website: truongduonggroup.com/en
- Vietnamese storefront: kinka.vn
- Hotline: +84 911 169 318
- TikTok Shop: @kinka.vn
- Shopee – KINKA Tea Shop: shopee.vn/tiemtrakinka
