The Gorreana tea manufacturing facility and plantations are a not-to-miss factor to do on São Miguel Island within the Azores. Gorreana is at the moment the one tea plantation in Europe. São Miguel island is without doubt one of the few islands the place tea grows. Throughout your go to to Gorreana, you possibly can study tea manufacturing, get pleasure from breathtaking views of the tea fields, attempt totally different native teas, and go on a hike.
What’s the oldest tea plantation in Europe?
Chá Gorreana manufacturing facility (Gorreana Tea) on São Miguel Island within the Azores is the oldest tea plantation in Europe. Cha Gorreana is at the moment the one tea plantation in Europe. This household enterprise has a protracted historical past. The continual tea manufacturing on Gorreana tea plantations began in 1883. The primary tea seeds have been delivered to the island from Brazil within the early nineteenth century. By the center of the nineteenth century, there have been a number of tea plantations on the island.
When was tea launched on São Miguel Island?
Tea was aimed to substitute orange manufacturing. Most of the orange plantations have been destroyed by the blight within the early nineteenth century. Until then oranges have been the primary Azorian export and the blight was threatening to set an financial disaster on the islands. It was determined to introduce various crops that will do effectively within the humid local weather with a purpose to assist native farmers. Tea was certainly one of them. Different crops included tobacco, candy potato, and pineapple.
The lack of information of Azorian farmers in rising tea triggered some struggles at first. The Sociedade Promotora da Agricultura Micaelense (SPAM) invited a tea grasp, Lau-a-Pan, to show native farmers the artwork of tea cultivation. And so the historical past of Azorean tea started.
By the top of the nineteenth century, as a result of main political and financial modifications in Portugal, the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility was the one one on the island that might keep steady manufacturing of tea.
The place is the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility?
Gorreana tea manufacturing facility and plantations are positioned on the north coast of Sao Miguel Island, within the parish of Maia, 30 km from the capital metropolis of Ponta Delgada. São Miguel is the primary island of the Azores, an autonomous area of Portugal, in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean.
The manufacturing facility is open to guests day by day: Mon – Fri from 8 am to six pm; Sat and Solar from 9 am to six pm.
The way to get to the Gorreana tea plantations?
Driving is the perfect and simplest way of attending to the Cha Gorreana tea plantation from anyplace on the island. We rented a automotive at Ponta Delgada Airport on arrival and dropped it off on departure. It was straightforward and fast for us although it depends upon the automotive supplier and your arrival time. On our departure day within the morning round 8 am we noticed many individuals on the automotive rental stalls on the airport.
It’s attainable to go to the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility with an organized tour. There are a number of tour choices.
What sort of tea is Gorreana?
The manufacturing facility produces 40 tons of tea per yr. Since 1883 the Gorreana manufacturing facility has been producing natural inexperienced and black tea. The manufacturing facility produces several types of tea. The totally different types of black tea embody Moinha, Damaged Leaf, and Orange Pekoe. The principle inexperienced tea varieties produced at Gorreana are Hysson and Encosta de Bruma. I want inexperienced tea and out of the totally different teas we tried Hysson was the perfect tea in my view.
What are the advantages of tea?
Black and inexperienced tea come from the identical plant referred to as Camellia Sinensis. The kind of tea depends upon the way in which leaves are processed. All teas include substances referred to as polyphenols that are wealthy in antioxidants. Out of all teas, inexperienced tea has essentially the most focus of antioxidants. Research present that average consumption of tea can have some well being advantages. Consumption of tea would possibly assist to scale back the danger of some continual ailments, may help to manage levels of cholesterol, and assist with weight administration.
Goreana manufacturing facility tour
You are able to do a free manufacturing facility tour on the Cha Gorreana to study tea cultivation and manufacturing. You’ll be able to see the equipment that’s used to make tea on the Gorreana manufacturing facility and witness the method.
After the tour, you possibly can get pleasure from a cup of tea on the cafe. Tea tasting is free. You’ll be able to praise your tea with one of many native sweets. We actually preferred their tea cookies. Inexperienced tea cookies with white chocolate have been our favorites. You should buy Gorreana natural tea and different souvenirs on the manufacturing facility reward store. They promote tea luggage and tea leaves in packs of various sizes.
Gorreana tea plantations hikes
Mountain climbing within the tea fields of Gorreana is an unimaginable expertise. The spectacular views of rolling hills coated in tea plantations surrounded by the ocean. There are two mountain climbing trails on the Cha Gorreana manufacturing facility: the Chá Gorreana round path (Pequenho rota round – PRC28) and the Caminho da Agua da Gorreana path (Trilho Municipal – TM05). Throughout your go to, you possibly can stroll certainly one of them or each when you’ve got sufficient time.
Chá Gorreana round path
- Distance – 3,6 km/2,2 mi
- Time – between 1 hour and 1h30min.
- Ascent – 164 m
- Descent – 169 m
- Sort – a round path that may be walked in both route
- Problem degree – straightforward
- Route marking – wood poles with yellow and pink stripes
Chá Gorreana Path is a lovely route that goes via the Gorreana tea plantations providing beautiful views of the tea fields and the coast. It’s a simple hike appropriate for folks with youngsters. We walked it with our 1.5-year-old daughter. She even walked a kilometer or so however a lot of the manner Campbell carried her in a backpack.
The Chá Gorreana Path begins throughout the highway from the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility. There isn’t a highway crossing so you need to wait when there aren’t any vehicles. The route is totally on a large gravel highway with just a little little bit of a footpath. The start and the top of the path are via tea plantations whereas the center part is thru a forest space.
Chá Gorreana Path GPX
Caminho da Agua da Gorreana path
- Distance – 2 km/1,2 mi, return
- Time – between 40 minutes and 1 hour
- Ascent – 58 m
- Descent – 58 m
- Sort – a linear path
- Problem degree – straightforward
- Route marking – wood poles with
This path is without doubt one of the hidden gems of the island. It’s a really quick route however you get to see the tea plantations, the indigenous forest of the Azores Islands, and a lovely waterfall. The very best factor in regards to the path is that it’s very quiet. Most guests do the round route via the tea plantations and never many hike this path. This path could be very quick and straightforward and it goes via the Goreana tea plantations as effectively. In the event you don’t have time to do the round hike you possibly can simply rapidly do that one.
Caminho da Agua da Gorreana path GPX
Are there different tea factories on the island of São Miguel?
There are two tea factories on São Miguel Island the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility and the Porto Formoso tea manufacturing facility. The second is lesser identified there for visited by fewer vacationers. The Porto Formoso manufacturing facility is located in the identical space within the north of São Miguel, simply 2 km away from the Gorreana manufacturing facility. In contrast to the Gorreana the Porot Formoso was closed between 1980 and 2001 when it was reopened as a tea manufacturing facility once more. They provide guided excursions and tea tastings. The manufacturing facility is open for guests Mon to Sat from 9 am to six pm (5 pm within the winter).
Greatest locations to remain close to the Gorreana tea plantations
We stayed for 3 nights at Pedras do Mar Resort & Spa and actually loved the place. It’s 24 km/15 mi away from the Gorreana tea manufacturing facility. The resort has good amenities, the rooms are spacious and the workers is useful. We (particularly our daughter) liked the indoor heated pool the place we spent hours each day. The surface infinity pool seems to be wonderful as effectively but it surely was too chilly and windy to make use of it. The continental breakfast was nice. The meals on the resort restaurant was excellent stay music each second evening is a bonus. I’d suggest reserving a room with a sea view.
Examine the charges and guide your room at Pedras do Mar Resort & Spa
There are a lot of nice locations to remain in that a part of São Miguel
| Casa do Mar | Quinta de Santana | Lodge Verde Mar & SPA |
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The gorgeous half of Stingy Nomads, accountable for all our land adventures (mountain climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a baby, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack reasonably than to do a ten 000 km highway journey (really any highway journey). Alya is an enormous fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.
