After a visit in the amazing Reunion island entered World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2010 2010, French overseas department positioned on Indian ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius, we had the pleasure to savour and discover the only real French production of tea, and organic in addition!
In Reunion Island, tea production is not a new thing. It’s been introduced on the Island in 1965 within 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 located in Grand Coud at the south east of Reunion Island.
The exploitation can boasts being the only real 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.
Family production, the exploitation of organic white tea of 3 hectares produces 4-6 tons of organic white tea each 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 allow the collection.
Another idea unknown to the public, tea plants are grafted together naturally in forest. Their branches intersect and end up “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 particular process. The distinctive feature of the exploitation of the Labyrinth is that each step is done yourself.
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 is picked by hand. However, not at any time of day, in the morning when the dew is still present.
In Asia, they often practice imperial picking; only the small terminal bud is removed. But white tea harvesting can even be done by fin picking (bud and the two leaves after), that your Labyrinth uses.
4. Drying: tea is naturally dried in a workshop, from the sun, on crates.
5. Flavour: tea-flavoured on the exploitation is made with different dried plants apart, then, they are blended with the white tea.
6. Grinding : tea is ground yourself.
7. Triage: It is done by hand, the large stems is removed to help keep only the leaves and buds. Nonetheless it mays that thin stems have the ability to slip into the lot.
8. Packaging and labelling: it is still done by hand. The aim of the Labyrinth in a medium or long-term would be to acquire a machine that may do this work and invite them to pack quicker larger levels of white tea.
What Makes A Good Tea
If these operations seem simple what differentiates a good tea to a negative tea.
Like good wine, good tea originates from a good soil. And Reunion Island in Grand Coud has the essential qualities to make a high-standard tea. Having been milk tea for pretty much 40 years, the soil is rich. Nevertheless, an excellent soil is a very 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 continues to be present.
Then, drying is also important. Tea should be dried at the time of packaging. This step allows an excellent preservation of tea.
Certification In All This
Organic tea and the standard one make a difference on the tea quality. The benefits are obviously good for the surroundings and this is especially true for the Labyrinth En Champ Th which does not usage of chemicals inputs and respects the ecosystem.The tea is better still.
Certified “AB – Agriculture Biologique”, the French equivalent of USDA Organic for all of us and Soil Association for UK, the exploitation must follow precise specifications and receives one scheduled visit of “AB” auditors one per year and unscheduled visits, 2 to 3 3 checks per year.
The auditors shall audit the seeds, crops and how farmers are powered by the tea. The audit is star with a theoretical phase that is verification of specifications and a practical phase on the field.
Also, the specificity of Grand Coud organic white tea is that, anytime, it really is treated. The soil is fed with compost from tea plants. Tea is left to cultivate at its own pace without the use 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 you don’t have of treatment. Also, by manual labour at all stages of tea production, the total amount 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’ll allow to further raise the quality of tea and 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, the two that follow). This is one of the reasons why white tea is really a premium tea and has not just a full flavored taste like green tea or black tea.
White tea is known as the best tea but of course everyone has their preferences.
White teas, like all teas, have antioxidant properties, but white tea is low in theine. Because of that that is a light tea which 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 the bitterness. Namely, that those who prefer green tea to black tea, enjoy more.