After Jersey last year, I'm delighted to share with you my trip to the heart of the Pyrenees in France for the annual meeting of European tea planters.
The Tea Grown in Europe association currently has tea-growing members in the Azores, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Jersey, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the UK. The association's aim is to support its members in the development of know-how and the use of environmentally-friendly best practices. To obtain national or European recognition labels, and to protect the botanical varieties vital to tea growing collected by members.
This year, we were warmly welcomed by Sybil and Lucas Ben Moura on the Pyrenean counter-forts at Argelès-Gazost. It was an opportunity to visit their young plantation located on the terraces of Arrieulat dating from 2018 with a first commercialization this year of which you can find some vintages in my store. It was also an opportunity to exchange ideas with members and organize a 2nd comparative tasting session of around twenty teas from various European producers (several producers from France, Italy, Spain, Azores, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands).ores, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands), and in a variety of colors (white, green, wulong, black), with yet more tasty discoveries and increased expertise in leaf processing.
Last year, in autumn 2022, the meeting was held in Jersey. I had the pleasure of being welcomed by Katherine, Terry, Michelle and Cardin to visit the tea gardens. I also had the honor of organizing a European and even world first: a tea tasting of some twenty teas from European producers. An excellent tasting experience. We also tested white, green and black teas, and even some superb wulongs made by Jakez Hubert with Filleule des Fées leaves worthy of great Taiwanese vintages, all 100% produced and processed in Europe from France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Azores and Jersey.
See you next year for a new destination!
Photos © dmcevents.uk for Jersey and © Lydia Gautier for the Pyrenees in France