Take a trip to explore the tea plantations of Mauritius
Mauritius exports between 6,500 and 8,000 tons of tea to other countries each year.
One of the best places to discover more about the history and production of tea is the Bois Cheri Tea Factory. Dating back to 1892, it was the first ever tea plantation on the island, and offers superb panoramic views which have remained much the same for over a century.
The process of picking tea leaves, drying and processing them hasn’t changed all that much since the first plantation opened, with the majority of the work still done by hand.
On your visit you’ll be given a guided tour of the factory so you can see how the leaves are transformed into the finished product. The finest teas are made from just the tender leaf buds, which can only be picked with the fingertips to avoid bruising – so it’s a really delicate process.
There’s an on-site tea museum which takes you on a journey through the history of the tea industry in Mauritius, as well as ornate 19th-century tea sets and old machinery once used in processing.
There’s also an interesting collection of photographs and paintings of the plantation and its workers. You get to sample some of the various teas too in a charming cottage with amazing views across a lake.