Hidden among green fields, in the region of Maia (Ribeira Grande) in São Miguel island, Gorreana tea factory is the oldest and currently the only tea plantation in Europe.
I was there in my last visit to the Azores islands. I wanted to see where did the production of this product on the island came from and how is still working today.
The entrance to the factory
Amazingly, this factory, which is also a museum, still operates in full and if you visit it during working hours you can come across with the workers in their daily routines.
In the rooms, the still original 1840 Marshall machines continue playing their role and bags with the finished tea are still on the ground, waiting to be taken to the next step.
The 1840 Marshall machines
The 1840 Marshall machines
An old picture of the factory
Gorreana is proud for not using chemicals in their plants, since the usual pests don’t do well in the climate of the island. So, 100% organic. Nothing like experiencing it in the tasting that follows the end of each visit.
The variety of teas produced
A piece of green tea
Outside, 32 hectares of plantation originate about 33 tons of tea per year in varieties of black and green. But only a small part of this production stays in the island. Everything else is exported to countries like Germany, USA, Canada, Austria, France, Italy, Brazil, Angola and even Japan, among many others.
The plantations just outside the factory
Is there any tea lovers out there? Leave your comment about what attracts you most in this product or tips on how to drink it. 😉
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27 COMMENTS
Jema de Half the Clothes
7 years agoHow fun! I’ve never been to a tea plantation, but I’d love to go. Did you learn about the difference between black and green tea plants? What do they look like in-situ?
I’m not a huge tea drinker – mostly use it for herbal remedies or when I don’t feel like coffee. But I’m fascinated by how things work and are grown!
Marlene Marques
7 years ago AUTHORHi Jema.The tea plant is the same, what diferes the black tea from the green tea is the transformation process. 🙂 I never thought about it, but there’s a lot of work put into the tea making process before it gets into our cup.
Julius from Traveltipy
7 years agoReally interesting place! I would probably never visit such a museum / company while on my first trip to Azores, but on the second trip… 🙂
Jen Joslin
7 years agoIt’s very interesting to learn the process of how tea is made from plant to cup! We got to experience this in Mae Salong, Thailand last year. I’d like to visit Azores too!
Shane
7 years agoThe plantation looks beautiful m. Fun experience!
Megan
7 years agoIt’s awesome that you go to see how the tea was produced. Such a unique experience.
Karlaroundtheworld | Karla
7 years agoI love tea! Hold or cold, natural or any other variant out there, I just feel pleased whenever I read anything about it and this certainly holds no exception. The Gorreana folks sure have it lucky with the weather at their side but that should hold as an influence for others out there.
Mar Pages
7 years agoI’ve been to a tea plantation in Sri Lanka and it was wonderful to see the teas being produced organically. Would love to visit the Gorreana tea factory when I get there!
Marlene Marques
7 years ago AUTHORSo cool! I’m going to Sri Lanka next October. If you have some good tips, let me know. 🙂
Christina
7 years agoI didn’t realize tea plantations basically don’t exist in Europe. I enjoy fresh green tea and I can’t think of anything fresher than tasting tea right after it is processed at the plant. Cool place to keep in mind when visiting the Azores.
Marlene Marques
7 years ago AUTHORHi Christina. If you like tea, this is definitely the place to be in Azores!
Hendrik
6 years agoTea plantation on Azores – I would never have thought. But thats what I love about such interesting posts like yours, that you can also learn often something completely new.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, now I know what should be inn the Azores list in case we spend some more days there 🙂
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORHi, Hendrik. Thank you so much for your comment! If you visit Azores, this is definitely a place you should check out. If you do, let me know what you think about it. 🙂
Neni
6 years agoI love drinking tea, especially green tea, but I know next to nothing about it. Thanks for introducing me to the topic. I will do some research now 😀
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORGlad I could help, Neni. 😉
Indrani
6 years agoOrganic stuffs are precious and when it is tea I would love to drink whole day. 🙂 I usually soak the tea leaves for minute in boiling water covered. That helps retain flavour too.
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORGood tip, Indrani! Will try that. Thanks!
Harsh Gupta
6 years agowow, plantation outside the factory looks just amazing. being a tea fan myself, would love to visit one such factory and experience it first-hand.
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORYou should do it one day, Harsh Gupta. You’d love it!
FS
6 years agoI don’t drink tea so had o idea about all this. Thanks for sharing.
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORThanks for reading!! 🙂
Sarah
6 years agoSo interesting! I’m always trying to enjoy tea more as it seems more internationally recognized as the caffeine of choice, but I’m a coffee drinker! One of our biggest regrets is not spending more time tasting & experiencing Tea Country in Sri Lanka, but we only have time for so much! Interesting that this is only tea plantation in Europe!
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORI’m also a regular coffee drinker, but can’r resist a good tea! 😉 I was also recently in Sri Lanka and couldn’t resist to bring home some local teas from the Uva region. So good!!
Christina
6 years agoI wouldn’t have thought there were tea plantations in the Azores. Somehow, the Azores Islands conjures up images of exotic beaches. The plantation looks like a good place to spend a few hours.
Marlene Marques
6 years ago AUTHORIt’s really a very interesting island, full of wonderful things to see. Glad I could show you a different place in Azores 🙂
Phil
10 months agoEver since I was a kid there is something about the tea fields. I always want to wander around those. Now that I am taller it does not give me the labyrinth vibes but still, because of all those memories, it amuses me.
Marlene Marques
10 months ago AUTHOREheh so true! The world seems so different when seen through the eyes of a child. But we have to keep that sense of discovery, even as the years go by 😉 Happy travels!