Reviving Lost Traditions: The Journey of Johny Guichard's Premium Tea Farm
Tea Production in Reunion Island: Aiming to Boost Quality, Revive Industry Production Levels
For two decades, Johny Guichard and his team have been on a mission to resurrect Réunion's abandoned tea industry, working in the very fields they played as kids. "Ever since 2005, we've been refining our harvest plots, and we saw it take off like wildfire," shares the tea farmer.
Crafting Quality with Precision
Each month, the choicest tea leaves are delicately handpicked twice. Following this, they undergo an initial drying process. Later, they're processed in the kitchen, where the hue of the tea is determined - an outcome influenced by the preparation method of the plant, regardless of the desired final product. Priced between 20 and 80 euros per 100 grams, Réunion tea is a high-end artisanal product that appeals to even the most refined palates.
Witness the inspiring tale in the video above.
The Artisanal Journey of Réunion Tea
The Process
- Organic or Semi-Organic Cultivation: The volcanic soil and tropical climate of Réunion create a perfect breeding ground for tea plants. Artisanal producers like Johny ensure minimal chemical inputs, enhancing the natural flavors while promoting environmental sustainability.
- Hand Harvesting: Only the youngest leaves and buds are plucked by hand - a meticulous process that preserves quality and complexity in the final product.
- Artisanal Processing: Traditional methods like withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying emphasize the unique floral and fruity tones of Réunion tea. Each step is carefully executed in small batches, enabling close quality control.
- Unique Processing Techniques: Some artisanal teas from Réunion incorporate unique flavor profiles through innovative fermentation processes or infusions inspired by local flora.
- Aesthetic Packaging: High-end teas are artfully packaged to protect the tea and maintain the product's artisanal allure.
Réunion's Distinctive Character
- Exceptional Terroir: The volcanic soil and microclimate of Réunion create a unique environment that imparts a distinctive flavor to the tea, characterized by its floral, fruity, and aromatic notes.
- Expert Knowledge: As an artisanal producer, Johny Guichard applies extensive expertise in cultivation and processing, ensuring each step showcases the tea leaves' natural characteristics.
- Limited Production: Small-batch production guarantees unrivaled attention to detail, producing high-quality, rare, and exclusive teas.
- Rich Cultural and Botanical Heritage: Tea production in Réunion remains rooted in traditional methods, preserving the region's cultural and botanical legacy.
- Johny Guichard, who has been reorganizing the abandoned tea industry of Réunion since 2005, hand-harvests only the youngest tea leaves and buds to ensure quality and complexity in the final product.
- The artisanal processing techniques at Johny's tea farm include withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying, which highlight the unique floral and fruity tones of Réunion tea.
- With prices ranging between 20 and 80 euros per 100 grams, the premium tea produced by Johny represents a high-end food-and-drink product that appeals to refined palates.
- As part of his mission to revive the lost traditions of Réunion's tea industry, Johny Guichard employs organic or semi-organic cultivation methods, minimizing chemical inputs to promote environmental sustainability while enhancing the tea's natural flavors.
