Producer
Roussillon
Jean-Marc Sanchez
Jean-Marc, an agricultural engineer, has been immersed in the world of wine for a very long time. His grandfather was a winegrower near Cahors, his father owns vineyards in the Roussillon (Maury) and his brother is an oenologist. Originally from Catalonia, he embarked on the adventure of tea production in 2021, just after the health crisis made him, as a tea consumer, realize that local tea is a challenge for the future.
"To know your product is to see it grow."
An idea, a gamble
The decision was taken to plant 30,000 tea bushes over 3 years in organic farming on 4 hectares under photovoltaic panels, in an unheated greenhouse in the Roussillon region in the commune of Saint-Cyprien (Pyrénées Orientales). Les Plantations d'Acapella was born. It's important for the agroecosystem to be sustainable. The tea trees are planted in sandy-loam soils in the shade of the photovoltaic panels (like their counterparts in the shade of tall trees). Dry, hot winds, which can dry out the plants, are avoided, as they are enemies of the tea plant. Auxiliary insects are used to combat pests. Plant cover is planted to structure the soil, fix atmospheric nitrogen and provide shelter for beneficial insects. Mulching is used to limit hand weeding and retain water resources. Many cultivation practices are being tested, with the Purpan Engineering School among the project partners. To limit risks, 19 varieties of tea bushes are being tested.
A small wooden chalet in the greenhouses enables the teas to be processed on site directly after plucking. Every processing parameter is tested. A slight change in weather or temperature, or in equipment, can drastically alter the result in the cup: "This know-how is very important for the quality of the finished product."
