Tiếng Việt
KINKA – The Aspiration to Elevate Vietnamese Herbal Medicine From the Highlands of Gia Lai
Continuing from Episode 3 of the “26 Years of Truong Duong: Unity Over Waves” series, in 2023 Truong Duong took another bold step forward: investing deeply in high-tech agriculture and herbal medicine with the KINKA brand.
Rather than borrowing a foreign name, KINKA established its own identity through the true value of a premium medicinal plant: Gia Lai golden camellia tea. Bringing this brand to market in 2023 was the result of years of quiet preparation that came before it.
The Growing Region at Bien Ho: Starting With “Restore the Forest First, Then Plant the Tea”
Good medicinal herbs must come from good land. Starting in 2017, Truong Duong chose the area around the ancient Chu Dang Ya volcano and Bien Ho (Gia Lai) — at an elevation of 600–800 meters above sea level, with mineral-rich basaltic red soil and a cool climate year-round — to establish a growing region of nearly 14 hectares.
There, we remain committed to nature-first cultivation:
- Forest regeneration: restoring the native forest ecosystem by planting canopy trees such as “bo ma” and gao (Bombax) to create shade, before later introducing wild golden camellia varieties to grow intercropped beneath the forest canopy.
- A no-chemicals commitment: the tea plants are nourished entirely by pure groundwater and grow without reliance on chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
- Social responsibility: the project creates stable jobs for ethnic minority communities in Gia Lai, giving them a reliable income to stay rooted in — and actively protect — their home forests.
Freeze-Drying Technology and Scientific Validation
To overcome the drawback of conventional heat-drying methods, which reduce medicinal potency, KINKA invested in a modern processing line:
- Freeze-drying at -40°C: this technology preserves the tea buds’ shape and natural flavor, and most importantly retains 95–98% of the valuable nutrients found in the flower.
- Validated by experts: the quality and active-compound content of KINKA’s tea products have been tested and confirmed through scientific research conducted in collaboration with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City.
- The fruit of persistence: in 2023, Gia Lai golden camellia tea proudly earned OCOP 4-star certification, becoming a flagship product of the region.
This dedication, from the growing fields all the way to the factory, has paid off. In 2024, KINKA was honored with a place among Vietnam’s Top 10 National Brands — solid proof of a clean, genuine product that benefits consumers’ health.
We didn’t choose the shortest path, nor a quick commercial win. We chose to put down deep roots in the land, elevating Vietnamese agricultural produce through science and technology, and bringing the finest of the highlands to the health of the Vietnamese people.
Look out for Episode 5 (the final episode) of the “26 Years of Truong Duong” series, where we explore how Truong Duong expanded into personal care with the SiMee brand.
TRUONG DUONG – Dedicated to Quality, Pioneering the Difference
- Website: truongduonggroup.com
- Purchasing website: www.truongduongstore.vn
- Hotline: +84 911 169 318
- Address: 160 Truong Cong Dinh Street, Tan Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
