For generations, cinnamon has always been associated with the lives of Quang Ngai people. Today, developing business from cinnamon trees has helped people here have more income and create jobs for local workers. Talking about the journey embarking on that path, Ms. Tran Thi Xuan Quynh - Director of Tan Hoa Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company was one of the representatives to bring the sense of Tra Bong cinnamon out of the mountains, to imprint on all regions in this country.
The cinnamon tea bag “Green Forest Cinnamon” brought convenience for users.
The sweet and mild Tra Bong cinnamon
Quynh's peaceful childhood is woven with the aroma of herbs and herbal medicine, especially Tra Bong cinnamon which carried the most alluring one. As following family to Sai Gon in order to live and set up a business, Quynh lived close to her mother who had brought cinnamon bark from Quang Ngai to Saigon since the 1990s. Cargo trucks regularly arrived at the port at midnight, filled with raw cinnamon bark supplied to traditional pharmacies at Dong Y Street in District 5 as well as spice production companies. However, the traditional family business was only developed manually, still a hard work and difficult to develop. It made Quynh concern about how to develop the family's traditional profession, improve the value of cinnamon herbs and let consumers use cinnamon bark in the easiest and most convenient way. From those deep thoughts, Quynh cherished to develop cinnamon products, prioritizing medicinal properties to spread the value of natural health care to consumers with the dream of keeping the traditional family profession, while developing the indigenous resource area in the homeland- the cinnamon incense region.
It was the strong desire in Quynh's heart that she decided to act, turning the dream of "Green Forest Cinnamon (Que Rung Xanh)" into reality and spreading in the community.
Enhancing the value of cinnamon by creating utility products around the cinnamon ecosystem has helped Quynh succeed in changing the business mindset of cinnamon traders. In which the main product was "cinnamon tea bag" which focused on promoting the medicinal properties of cinnamon. From natural and pure cinnamon materials harmoniously combining with herbs along with advanced freeze-drying and packaging technology without heat-sealed packaging, the most natural and safe cinnamon tea bags were produced in priority of the consumer health.
Ensuring food safety and hygiene was the top priority in the entire process from production to packaging and distribution of products to consumers. Therefore, the cinnamon tea bag ensured the standard of 05 No: No pesticides, no growth stimulants, no harmful bacteria, no plant additives and no preservatives. It has contributed to spread the community health care value from natural products for Vietnamese people.
Cinnamon tea with filter bags is the highlight of Xuan Quynh's entrepreneurial journey. The new feature of the product launched by Quynh to the market was that it had 80% natural cinnamon ingredients with a characteristic pungent aroma and herbs: lily for good sleep, stevia for natural sweet flavor, black tea for bittersweet taste and aroma. The combination of medicinal herbs had the effect of warming the body, helping blood circulation, increasing yang energy, stabilizing blood sugar, giving fresh breath and a good night's sleep and bringing a feeling of relaxation, peace in the soul for tea drinkers.
Experiencing many failed attempts, there were times when Quynh was stuck trying to find a way for Tan Hoa Pharmaceutical's business. At that time, Quynh let cinnamon incense guide her dream. In 2020, Quynh brought cinnamon tea products back to her Quang Ngai hometown to present her “long-pregnant child” in the Quang Ngai Innovative Start-up. And it finally born fruit when her product won the second prize at this contest. After days of concern, the initial success seemed to open a new path ahead for which Quynh had determined to pursue for the rest of her life.
The concept of trading agricultural products for humans needed to be considered as a preventive health industry and also needed a worthy investment. Food must be for life, not just to fill the stomach or satisfy the palate; all of these were valuable “belongings” that Quynh always carries with her when deciding to start a business.
Cinnamon- tea bag was selected as a product to participate in Quang Nam Innovative Start-up Festival – TechFest Quang Nam 2021
Developing the brand “Que Rung Xanh” (“Green Forest Cinnamon”)
Not only building a tea brand "Green Forest Cinnamon", Quynh has also created a source of income for many people in the highlands of Tra Bong. In order to have a stable source of raw materials and ensure the natural quality of Tra Bong cinnamon flavor, Quynh had spent a lot of time researching and ordering cinnamon bark from local people, bringing to the initial processing warehouse in Nghia Ha - Quang Ngai, then later transporting to Saigon for processing.
With a wide variety of cinnamon products, Quynh has been trading in powdered cinnamon, cinnamon bars, essential oils, handmade cinnamon soaps, and cinnamon incense sticks. Especially, the cinnamon tea bag product researched by Quynh herself has been receiving high praise from consumers for both appearance and quality.
With firm packaging technology, using paper materials that are naturally degradable in the environment but still ensure the best product quality to consumers, the material which was kraft paper (also known as Japanese paper) with silver grafting helped to preserve the product, resist moisture and be able to be reused 100%, much better than conventional plastic packaging.
Products were designed to be convenient and environmentally friendly. This was considered a convenient solution, bringing traditional values to modern life. Users just needed to put the tea bag into the cup, pour the right amount of boiling water and enjoy a delicious cup of tea in less than 5 minutes.
Tran Thi Xuan Quynh – Founder of the brand "Que Rung Xanh" (Green Forest Cinnamon)
Quynh shared that: “From packaging to tea bags, Quynh chose natural and biodegradable materials. Especially, the wrapping film of the bag was made of cornstarch and cereal flour, so it was very safe and could ensure the customer health and environmentally friendly.”
Tra Bong Cinnamon had a quiet but rich life inside the deep forests. In order to have a "transformation" for cinnamon into a popular circulating product for people, Quynh must ensure the message about the environment and about the human-nature connection. Listening to the voice of nature was also to return and recognize the inner value of each person. Each product made from cinnamon was not only the existence of nature but also helping people to see the history and culture of each land.
From the raw cinnamon bark in Tra Bong highland, Quynh has embedded soul into refined products with utility value. The great uses of cinnamon are more well- known, the product has been presented throughout Vietnam. That was also the mission that the people of Quang Ngai often liken: "The girl brought Tra Bong cinnamon out of the mountain shade".
Quynh called it a "small journey" with her own true experiences. Today, there were many young people starting businesses in the field of agriculture and clean food; and thanks to the e-commerce platform, they have adorned the agricultural industry picture with bright colors. If brands like Green Forest Cinnamon developed, the future of Vietnamese agriculture would be different, it would be an agriculture for human life.
