After a trip in the amazing Reunion island entered World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2010 2010, French overseas department placed on Indian ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius, we had the pleasure to savour and discover the only French production of tea, and organic on top of that!
In Reunion Island, tea production isn’t a new thing. It’s been introduced on the Island in 1965 as part of culture diversification. In 1967, renowned tea, the production amount to 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 tea production of France. However, Johnny Guichard has specialized in organic premium tea under 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 per year.
Tea Anecdote
Regardless of the conventional wisdom, tea is not a shrub but a tree that could achieve 20 m high. It is cut at breast height to allow the collection.
Another idea unknown to the general 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 done throughout the year except in June and July.
Tea production as any agricultural crop follows a specific process. The distinctive feature of the exploitation of the Labyrinth is that all 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 : Once the tea has reached harvestable size, it is picked by hand. But 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 花茶 can even be done by fin picking (bud and both leaves after), which the Labyrinth uses.
4. Drying: tea is naturally dried in a workshop, from the sun, on crates.
5. Flavour: tea-flavoured on the exploitation is manufactured with different dried plants apart, then, they’re mixed with the white tea.
6. Grinding : tea is ground by hand.
7. Triage: It is done yourself, the large stems is removed to help keep only the leaves and buds. However it mays that thin stems have the ability to slip into the lot.
8. Packaging and labelling: it really is still done by hand. The aim of the Labyrinth in a medium or long-term is to acquire a machine that can 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 bad tea.
Like good wine, good tea comes from an excellent soil. And Reunion Island in Grand Coud gets the essential qualities to make a high-standard tea. Having been fallow for pretty much 40 years, the soil is rich. Nevertheless, an excellent soil is an extremely good start however, not only.
Other determinants components are picking. The harvest time is critical. The Labyrinth En Champ Th makes this through the morning where the air continues to be cool and where dew is still present.
Then, drying is also important. Tea must be dried during packaging. This step allows a good preservation of tea.
Certification In All This
Organic tea and the standard one make a difference on the tea quality. The huge benefits are obviously good for the surroundings and this is particularly true for the Labyrinth En Champ Th which will not use of chemicals inputs and respects the ecosystem.The tea is even better.
Certified “AB – Agriculture Biologique”, the French exact carbon copy of USDA Organic for US and Soil Association for UK, the exploitation must follow precise specifications and receives one scheduled visit of “AB” auditors once a year and unscheduled visits, 2-3 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 which is verification of specifications and a practical phase on the field.
Also, the specificity of Grand Coud organic white tea is that, anytime, it is treated. The soil is fed with compost from tea plants. Tea is left to grow at its own pace without the usage of chemical fertilizers and tea fields are left in their natural environment.
The other feature is that we now have no diseases or pests on the exploitation so far, so there is no need 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 undoubtedly 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 minimal 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 a premium tea and has not just a full flavored taste like green tea extract or black tea.
White tea is called the best tea but needless to say everyone has their preferences.
White teas, like all teas, have antioxidant properties, but white tea is lower in theine. Because of that this can be a light tea which might 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 that prefer green tea extract to black tea, enjoy more.