Historic tea plantations of Chá Gorreana, a fascinating place to learn about tea production in São Miguel, Azores

Gorreana Tea Plantations

The Gorreana Tea Plantations are a tea plantation and factory located in the parish of Maia, very close to Ribeira Grande, on the island's north coast. It's a one-of-a-kind spot in northern São Miguel that, together with the nearby Porto Formoso Tea Factory, makes up the only tea plantations in all of Europe. In fact, Gorreana is the oldest tea plantation on the continent, with uninterrupted production since 1883.

It was founded that year by Ermelinda Pacheco Gago da Câmara, who was the one to produce the first kilo of dried tea here, and to this day it's still a family business now in its fifth generation. So how did tea make its way to an island in the middle of the Atlantic? Well, in the 19th century, the Sociedade Promotora da Agricultura Micaelense set out to promote this crop and, in 1878, brought over two specialists from China who provided the seeds and, above all, the techniques for preparing the tea. The area's humid climate and volcanic soil did the rest.

Today the plantations cover about 32 hectares (around 79 acres) and produce more than 30 tons of tea a year, in the black tea (their specialty) and green tea varieties. You can't leave here without visiting the factory, open to the public free of charge, walking through its old machines and tasting one of their teas. They're a real treat and packed with flavor.

But Gorreana also has a space for hiking lovers. The PRC28 SMI trail is an excellent option for exploring the Gorreana tea fields up close. It's a loop trail that runs through the tea fields. It's an easy walk, accessible for anyone, and its starting point is right across from the factory, on the other side of the road. Don't worry, you can't miss it.

If you decide to do the trail, which is 3.3 km (about 2 miles) long, you'll be surrounded by intense green and the smell of tea. For around 1 hour and 30 minutes you'll enjoy a calm, serene trail, ideal for a relaxing walk

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