Using Ancient Machinery, Teamakers Thrive Here

Tea growing at Cha Gorreana, a tea manufacturer in the Azores.
Tea growing at Cha Gorreana, a tea manufacturer in the Azores.

Rows of tea at the Gorreana Tea company. We learned about how tea is made and that in a climate like the Azores, a lot of rain is great for growing the leaves of Orange Pekoe, Pekoe and green teas.

Some of the British tea manufacturers who were doing business in India decided in the 1940s that this young upstart had to be stopped. So many of the Azores Tea firms were bought up by British tea giants and closed down. That’s one way to keep the competition from growing!

P1600148Today ancient machinery made in England is used to make tea at this factory.  In addition, tobacco, pineapples and bananas are among the crops that thrive in this climate.