Old Tea Plantations/New Life

[TinyTim]

Here is a heartwarming story, especially so if you love tea as I do.

When the Soviet Union was dismantled in 1989, many of the tea plantations in the Republic of Georgia were abandoned. Last year a group of young entrepreneurs resurrected a number of the old tea plantations and began harvesting and producing tea. Their teas are outstanding by any standards. They have a few teas left in stock from last season.

If you want to read their story go to www.renegadetea.com

 

[Lightcs1776]

Great article. I had no idea that Georgia produced tea.

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[ajkel64]

I also had no idea about tea making/producing in Georgia. Thanks for sharing.

 

[global_dev]

that's pretty cool.

 

[Fairwind]

There's some guy here in Northern California who is attempting to grow tea commercially.

 

[TinyTim]

There's some guy here in Northern California who is attempting to grow tea commercially.

One of those responsible for the development of tea growing around the world is Nigel Melican.

Teacraft’s Nigel Melican to Receive ‘The John Harney Lifetime Achievement Award’ at World Tea Expo, June 12-14 in Las Vegas | World Tea News

 

[Proinsias]

I heard about them sometime last year but haven't tried anything, will be keeping an eye on them.

I did have a lovely Georgian tea back in 2008 from Nothing But Tea, which is, I think, Nigel's company.

The blurb from them about the Georgian Black I had was:

Our Old Gentleman tea is made by Iuri in the tiny village Nasakirali. His tea has all the freshness of a springtime meadow. Old Gentleman tea is very well twisted and even; it is blacker than our Old Lady tea made by Natela, though hers shows more golden tip. In the cup Iuri's Old Gentleman tea is slightly more robust and complex and is a darker brew, while Natela's is lighter and sweeter, as befits a lady.

Note for animal lovers - Iuri has an unusual black and white dog with one brown eye and one blue eye! His tea is just as unusual!

 

[natenaaron]

I have to admire the gumption it takes to do something like this.