I’m here to spill the tea! But this tea isn’t in China, Vietnam, India, or Bali. This tea hails from São Miguel island in the Azores, Portugal. We visited on our recent trip to the island, and it was one of the best things we did on the whole trip. I definitely recommend it to you for your own trip to the Azores. But before you go, here is everything you need to know about visiting the Gorreana Tea Plantation (Chà Gorreana) in the Azores.
It’s Free!
I would have been totally willing to pay to take this tour and walk around, but who doesn’t love a free activity, right? No need for a reservation, no worries about finding it closed or sold out for the day. It’s open every day of the week, from 8:00am-6:00pm. My strategy for travel with a baby these days is one activity per day, no time commitments. It keeps me from putting too much pressure on myself and being disappointed when the day doesn’t go as planned! This was the perfect activity for our first full day on the island.
More here: What It’s Like Staying at Octant Hotel Furnas, Azores
Take the Tour
Tours are led in multiple languages, including English, and they go on demand, throughout the day. Just ask anyone who works there. They’ll wait a few minutes to let others of the same language preference join, and then they’ll start. The tour was truly fascinating. The plantation has been operating in the same family since 1883, and some of the equipment has been used since then as well! I had no idea how complex the tea making process was, or even that white tea, green tea, and black tea come from the same plant! And yes, you can absolutely sample some tea at the end of the tour.
Read on: What to Do in the Azores with a Baby
Walk the Tea Fields
Visitors are encouraged to walk the tea fields as well. You’ll think you’ve crossed the street and stepped into Southeast Asia. Between the tiered planting structure and the hydrangeas, it’s a great place for photo ops, too. There are also a couple of trails that go through here, including a 3 km circular trail you can take. Visiting the tea plantation is a great activity for your first day or two on the island, because it’s an outdoor experience, which will help with your jet lag.
Read next: What to Know Before You Visit the Azores
The Restaurant
Come hungrier than we did! There is a great cafe here as well. You can get breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just tea and a sweet treat before or after your visit. Be sure to snag a table outside while you eat. The view of the tea plantation and the coastline is spectacular!
Keep reading: 7 Reasons Why Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
The Gift Shop
This was one of the best gift shops on the island. There’s so much variety, from soaps to preserves, from socks to artwork, from jewelry to tee shirts, and, of course, every type of tea they make! I did all my gift shopping here on our trip. I even picked up a few things for myself.
Read next: Three Things You Need to Know about International Travel as a Single Parent
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