Gorreana is Europe’s Garden
Tea triggers genetic expression.
AZORES
Tea was first brought to Europe by Portuguese traders (1500s), and to the court of England by a Portuguese princess (1660s). Now, Portugal can claim to be the main tea growing country in Europe. Gorreana and Porto Formoso in the Azores illustrate how tiny gardens in unusual regions are finding a market. Gorreana’s green tea is sold in the US by Walmart and a number of eBay-based stores.
The Azores are a mid-Atlantic group of nine islands, with a temperate climate and rich volcanic soil. They are Portuguese territory, though a thousand miles from Lisbon. Tea was introduced in the early 19th century and production grew to fourteen factories. Gorreana (50 hectares, 120 acres) has made tea since 1883 and now produces 40 metric tons. Porto Formoso (5 acres) operated from the 1920s to 80s and was reopened in 2005.
The climate is pristine, with no industry, pollution, pesticides, or urbanization. The black pekoe and hyson green teas get favorable reviews as complex, slightly sweet and bold. The manufacturing process is very traditional; some of the machinery dates from the 1840s.
Gorreana benefits from tourism, as do gardens in Darjeeling and Sri Lanka among others: the combination of ecology, nature, history and hands-on opportunities to visit a working tea garden. Gorreana’s teas are getting coverage and endorsement on many tourist sites and publications.
The Azores have a firm claim to be the largest and longest established tea growing region in Europe, but not the most unlikely or most hostile climate.
The general message from Gorreana is that in the era of social media and e-commerce, any tea from anywhere that offers anything special can find its market anytime.