Gorreana Tea Estate

Europe’s oldest tea plantation, on the green north coast of São Miguel in the Azores.

On the green north coast of São Miguel, the tea fields of Gorreana run in bright rows towards the sea. Planted in the 1880s, they form the oldest — and one of the last — tea estates of Europe, with a factory that still works with the machines of its early days on the island.

History and character

Tea came to the Azores in the nineteenth century, when the orange trade declined and the islanders looked for new crops. The Gorreana estate was planted in 1883 and became the heart of Azorean tea, growing the plants of the Camellia sinensis in the island’s mild, humid climate — the same conditions that give the tea of Gorreana its character today.

What to discover

The tea fields, sweeping across the hills above the sea.
The factory, with its historic machinery and the smell of drying tea.
The tastings of black and green Azorean tea.
The north coast landscapes around the estate, between Maia and São Brás.

Visiting

The estate is on the north coast of São Miguel, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, reached by road. The estate welcomes visitors in its own hours; check the official page before your visit.