Some people claim that the correct term is moc cau or “areca mould” tea, because the curly dried leaves have a thin white coat, like the mould on an areca palm leaf. Top-quality tea is called “Thai Nguyen tea,” since the plantations of Thái Nguyen province were said to produce the best tea in Vietnam.

A staple at celebrations and family get-togethers, tea and its associated rituals are intrinsically tied to concepts of hospitality, respect for one's elders, and peaceful communion with nature in Vietnam. Tea drinking is a fairly informal affair in Vietnam, without the complex rituals found in other countries.

introduced into the English-speaking countries for the name of… A garden or open-air enclosure, connected with a house of entertainment, where tea and other refreshments are served.