The tea plantations in the north of the island offer not only stunning views, but also a museum of tea production and tasting. The word "Chá" means tea in Portuguese and Gorreana is the name of the company that owns the tea plantation.
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A visit to this picturesque area should definitely not be missed. In fact, Chá Gorreana is the oldest tea plantation in Europe, having been operating continuously since 1883. The local tea factory is one of only about ten similar businesses across Europe.
It produces mainly high quality black tea, which is exported throughout Europe and America, but green tea is also grown here in large quantities.
Take a walk through the plantations
Tea is grown on the northern gentle slopes along the main ring road around the island, and there is an official marked hiking trail through the plantations that you can follow at any time for free. The trail is open to the public and there is no need to ask for any permission to visit or buy tickets.
The hiking trail starts at the road directly opposite the tea factory and is circular, so you can conveniently walk back to your car. It's 3.5km long and runs through gently rolling countryside, so even completely untrained travellers can make the journey.
Visit the Chá Gorreana factory
After walking through the plantations, the highlight of your visit will be the small museum in the local factory, where you can get a first-hand look at the tea-making process and, of course, buy local products directly.
Visiting the factory is free of charge on weekdays between 8:30am and 6:00pm and on weekends between 9:00am and 6:00pm.
How to get to the plantation?
There is a parking lot directly in front of the Chá Gorreana factory, where you can stop for free. As the plantations are situated around the main island road, it is very easy to get here without any complicated wandering. The distance from Ponta Delgada is 30 km, see the route map.
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Although there is officially a bus stop at the junction by the factory, you can only get here 1-2 times a day on weekends. All other services running on the north coast bypass this part of the main road along the coast through the centres of the villages of São Brás and Maia.
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