mrebviesAfter a visit in the amazing Reunion island entered World Heritage Site by Unesco this year 2010, French overseas department placed on Indian ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius, we’d the pleasure to savour and discover the only real French production of tea, and organic on top of that!
In Reunion Island, tea production isn’t a new thing. It has been introduced on the Island in 1965 as part of culture diversification. In 1967, renowned tea, the production total 29 tons and 40 tons in 1969 then stopped in 1972.
In July 2005, Johnny Guichard took responsibility of an old exploitation of tea goes back to 1955 and refitted it.Perched at 1 100m altitude at the foot of primary forest of Reunion, the exploitation is situated in Grand Coud at the south east of Reunion Island.
The exploitation can boasts being the only tea production of France. However, Johnny Guichard has specialized in organic premium tea beneath the brand Le Labyrinthe En Champ Th with white tea and white tea-flavoured with many flavours; cinnamon, lemongrass, rosat geranium, lemon geranium, lemon eucalyptus, vanilla, mint, lemongrass.
livro um curso em milagres pdf , the exploitation of organic white tea of 3 hectares produces 4-6 a great deal of organic white tea per year.
Tea Anecdote
Despite the conventional wisdom, tea is not a shrub but a tree that could achieve 20 m in height. It really is cut at breast height to permit the collection.
Another idea unknown to the public, tea plants are grafted together naturally in forest. Their branches intersect and find yourself “merge”.
Production Process
The harvesting of organic white tea from the exploitation is performed throughout the year except in June and July.
Tea production as any agricultural crop follows a specific process. The distinctive feature of the exploitation of the Labyrinth is that every step is done by hand.
1 – The first step may be the cutting of tea plants.
2 – Tea culture : tea grows until it reaches its size of harvest.
3 – Picking : After the tea has reached harvestable size, it really is picked by hand. However, not anytime of day, each morning when the dew is still present.
In Asia, they often practice imperial picking; only the tiny terminal bud is removed. But white tea harvesting can also be done by fin picking (bud and both leaves after), that your Labyrinth uses.
4. Drying: tea is naturally dried in a workshop, away from the sun, on crates.
5. Flavour: tea-flavoured on the exploitation is made with different dried plants apart, then, they’re blended with the white tea.
6. Grinding : tea is ground by hand.
7. Triage: It is done yourself, the large stems is removed to help keep only the leaves and buds. However it mays that thin stems have the ability to slip into the lot.
8. Packaging and labelling: it is still done by hand. The objective of the Labyrinth in a medium or long-term would be to acquire a machine that may do this work and allow them to pack quicker larger quantities of white tea.
What Makes A Good Tea
If these operations seem simple what differentiates an excellent tea to a bad tea.
Like good wine, good tea comes from a good soil. And Reunion Island in Grand Coud has the essential qualities to make a high-standard tea. Having been fallow for pretty much 40 years, the soil is rich. Nevertheless, an excellent soil is an extremely good start but not only.
Other determinants components are picking. The harvest time is crucial. The Labyrinth En Champ Th makes this through the morning where the air continues to be cool and where dew is still present.
Then, drying is also important. Tea must be dried during packaging. This step allows a good preservation of tea.
Certification In All This
Organic tea and the standard one make a difference on the tea quality. The huge benefits are obviously good for the surroundings and this is especially true for the Labyrinth En Champ Th which does not use of chemicals inputs and respects the ecosystem.The tea is even better.
Certified “AB – Agriculture Biologique”, the French equivalent of USDA Organic for US and Soil Association for UK, the exploitation must follow precise specifications and receives one scheduled visit of “AB” auditors once a year and unscheduled visits, 2 to 3 3 checks per year.
The auditors shall audit the seeds, crops and how farmers operate on the tea. The audit is star with a theoretical phase which is verification of specifications and a practical phase on the field.
Also, the specificity of Grand Coud organic white tea is that, at any time, it really is treated. The soil is fed with compost from tea plants. Tea is left to grow at its own pace without the usage of chemical fertilizers and tea fields are left within their natural environment.
The other feature is that there are no diseases or pests on the exploitation so far, so there is no need of treatment. Also, by manual labour at all stages of tea production, the balance of the ecosystem is preserved.
Moreover, the exploitation is moving to a production in agro forestry in short-term (tea growing undergrowth) tea plants, being in the woods, will be shaded. One hand, it will allow to further increase the quality of tea and also to facilitate the picking.
A Matter Of Taste
White tea is tea, that undergoes the least processing where are took only the buds and young shoots (leaves, both that follow). This is among the reasons why white tea is really a premium tea and has not a full flavored taste like green tea or black tea.
White tea is known as the best tea but needless to say everyone has their preferences.
White teas, like all teas, have antioxidant properties, but white tea is low in theine. Because of that this is a light tea that can be appreciated until the evening.
White tea requires an infusion longer than green or black tea (15 mn). The organic white tea from Reunion produces a good sweetness on the palate that makes it subtle, without any bitterness. Namely, that those that prefer green tea to black tea, enjoy more.
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