Azores Tea Culture
The Azores islands officially discovered in 1432 by Goncalo Velho Cabral on behalf of Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator are a group of volcanic islands located in the mid-Atlantic ocean off the western coast of Europe. The exuberant shades of emerald green mountains, mineral rich hot springs and hydrangea covered hills that merge into the majestic Atlantic have been producing the finest environmentally friendly teas at the Gorreana estate for over a century.
Rated the 2nd best island destination in the world for sustainable tourism by National Geographic; the relaxed lifestyle of the Azores is only one of the reasons why these remote islands have been able to preserve their traditional European heritage while continuing to produce the finest artisan products for the European community for over 500 years.
The rare teas that the Gorreana tea estate and plantation have been producing in the Azores have been a European favorite ever since the art of tea cultivation was introduced in the Azores by two tea experts from Macau in September 1874. The culture and passion for tea quickly spread from European houses of Royalty to working classes where the European teas from the Azores were received with great excitement and fanfare all over the world.
"The first outcome of the tea-growing in the Azores is shown in a sample recently received at the Kew Museum from Senor Jose Do Canto. The sample is of good appearance, the smell is also good; and the flavor of the infusion by no means to be despised" - The New York Times July 27, 1879
Grown hundreds of miles away from industrial pollution and harvested fresh every April to September with a large celebration at the peak of the annual harvest, Gorreana's single estate organic green & black teas have been in continued production since 1883. A legacy of fine gourmet teas, all produced pesticide free for 130 years!
