Tea Tour: Best Tea Tourism Destinations


tea tour: best tea tourism destinations
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Have you ever imagined going beyond borders and traversing hectares of greener tea plantations? Have you ever imagined of the nostalgic and buzzy feeling that comes with it? If no, then you are really missing a lot.

So what is tea tourism?

The rich and aromatic feeling of tea does not end with its domestic brewing or sipping. There is a lot more when it comes to enjoying the jaw-dropping sights of the herbal trees. Tea tourism refers to the art of travelling around the world in the quest for pleasure that comes with exposure to tracts of green tea farms. It is a new concept that is bursting in popularity. 

Tea tourism can either be commercialized or just for pleasure. Commercial tea tourism relates to business vacations. It is where the company funds the vacation purposely for benchmarking on the progress of native planters and factories. This package also comes handy with learning the new concepts of tea cultivation and some of the brands used. 

On the other hand, personalized form of tea tourism is mainly for pleasure. It is more about going for a vocational trip mainly to enjoy the buzz that comes with the fresh air and beautiful landscapes. 

Some of the incentives that you will enjoy the vacation tea trip includes travel guides, cosy and homey accommodation and more. Tea lovers cherish high-quality brews of fresh tea whenever they are in tea vacations. Otherwise, there are sundry of opulent hotels that serve a variety of five-star meals.

Best tea tourism destination

Destination matters a lot when it comes to whether you will achieve your travelling dream or not. An ideal destination does not only realize the euphoric feeling that comes with walking between large tracts of tea farms but also brings out other elements of adventure. For example, sun-basking on the sandy beaches of Barbados takes tea tourism on the island an extra mile. Here is a list of tea tourism hotspots that you should not miss to try out. 

1. India

India is not only popular for its large tea plantations but also for the rich diversified cultures. It is the cradle of human language. Any trip to India relates to meeting cherishable and hospitable populace that are overly motivated to paint a huge smile on your face. 

Tea hotspots in India harbour rich historical records that date back to the colonial period. This is when the British ruled Indians. The colonial government set up several large plantations where Indians worked as slaves. Your trip to India should cover:

a. Darjeeling

Located in West Bengal, Darjeeling is one of the most popular hill farms in India that anyone cannot miss stepping feet on. It is popular for its light coloured and highly-priced floral tea; and large hectares of tea plantations. Darjeeling tea production accounts for almost 25% of India’s total tea production. 

Plantations in Darjeeling are partitioned depending on the villages they are found. Some offer tea tour guide while some do not. Some of the tea plantations in the region include:

  • Happy Valley tea estate

Established in 1854, Happy Valley Tea Estate is the second oldest tea farm in India. It covers approximately 177 hectares of land and situated at a height of about 2100 meters above sea level. The tea farm includes a tea museum that was set in the year 2008 and the tea factory. The Estate is one of its own that provides tour guide and edgy accommodation services to native tourist. Otherwise, tea tourism across the estate will expose you to different personalities, 1500 of which works as employees in tea farms and factory. 

  • Glen Burn Tea Estate

Glen Burn Tea Estate is a little corner of tea heaven located in the North-Eastern part of Darjeeling. It prides the historical Bungalow homes that have been home for tea planters, for now, four generations. Among the Bungalows are the vintage and classic styled hotels that do not only offer luxurious accommodation services but also a wealth of other amenities. With free parking, gratifying landmarks and free breakfast, this estate is one of the popular vicinities that you should give a try.

  • Lebong Valley

Just some miles away from Darjeeling is the famous Ging Tea Estate. Established in 1864, the estate is one of the oldest in the district. The Heritage tea garden prides a number of luxurious hotels that offer a wide range of meals and tour services. Generally, the tea garden spreads out to over 600 hectares of greenfield that offers cool feel and breath for the acrid air. 

  • Tumsong Chiabari Tea estate

This is the last estate that should not miss in your travel guide to Darjeeling. It features luxurious service such as deluxe hotels that offer a variety of delicacies, free Wi-Fi, health and fitness facilities and tour guides.

b. Assam 

Assam is located on the North-Eastern side of India. It is well known for the production of brightly coloured leaves. The hub is the largest tea producer in India. 

Your trip to Assam should cover famous hotspots such as:

  • Banyan Grove

Set by the colonial government, Banyan Grove tea estate is the largest and oldest of all the estates in Assam. It has been into existence for now 100 years. One of the ornamental landmarks in the estate is the vintage designed Bungalows that were set up by the colonial government. The Bungalow harbour seven guest houses furnished with sundry of facilities for a luxurious stay. At the centre of the Estate is the Gatonga tea hub with a tea factory at its cradle. 

  • Wild Mahseer

Wild Mahseer is widely known for its refurbished Bungalows. It is located just some miles away from Assam city at the bank of Brahmaputra River.

Generally, India is the first priority place to consider when designing a tea tourism travelling cheat sheet. The list of plantations and tea hotspots do not end there. Tamil and Munnar also offer a wide array of services that you can try out. Related Article: 5 Proven Health Benefits of Assam Black Tea

2. China

China is the motherland of tea. It prides rich historical records on tea brands, accessories, method of preparation and methods of consumption. In China, life revolves around tea. You will automatically like her rich and well-established tea culture. The must-see tea tourism hubs in China include:

a. Longjing Tea Estate

Located in the south of Hangzhou province, Longjing is well known for the historic green tea production. Its tea is the colour of Jade and taste like chestnuts. Here, the large tracts of tea farms and plantations are divided with bus routes and circle pathways hence rendering them open to the public.

The best way to set your journey to Longjing is during the famous Qing Ming festival. The festival, which usually happens in the month of July, is riddled with picking and roasting of the fresh leaves. Hence, bringing about the element of flavourful taste and scent. 

b. Wuyi Mountain

In China, Wuyi Mountain is celebrated for its famous Wolong tea. The brews are made with a partially oxidized green and black teas. 

On the mountains are limestone peaks and cliffs that offer a postcard image of China. It is the cradle of the black Chinese tea that was first exported to the west in ancient times. 

Tea production in this region is not limited to Wolong brand. There are various plantations spread over a thousand hectares of land, used for the production of different varieties of the herbal tree. Besides, there are providential hotels that offer deluxe accommodation services and tour guide. 

c. Zhejiang

Zhejiang is a popular tree growing province in Central China. Tea farms in the region cover approximately 1.43 million hectares, three times the total acreage covered by Japanese tea fields. 85% of the teas produced are green teas with only 15% being black teas. 

The best time to book a flight to the famous province is between October and late March. During this period, farmers in the region are harvesting, roasting and drying the green teas. Otherwise, the region also harbours hundreds of factories, tea farms and hundreds of hotels that offer myriads of accommodation, tour and chauffeuring services. 

d. Anhui 

Anhui is the Eastern province in inland China. It features hundreds of tea plantations some of which are mountainous while others are flatlands. It is in this region that popular brands of tea such as Keemun black tea, Hyson Green Tea, Huangshan Maofeng and Tang Ping Hou Kui originated.  Other than excellent tour services in the region, the region also enjoys varying weather conditions. The mountainous region enjoys the cool weather conditions that are ideal during hot conditions. The flat regions are known for the warm temperatures that cut across through almost three quarters of every year. 

Conclusion

Tea tourism is the best way to replace your annual vacation. Popular trips entail walking through the large tracts of tea plantation, learning how to pluck the tea leaves, observing tea processing procedures, access to sunrise and sunset points, tea brewing training and more. For game lovers, this is the best time to enjoy your favourite indoor or outdoor game. 

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Mary L

When you discover something you love you want to share it with the world, that’s only natural. My passion had become my way of life, and I am finally able to share a cup of the good stuff with the ones I love. Proof that dreams really do come true when you can share your favorite brew.

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