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After a visit in the amazing Reunion island entered World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2010, French overseas department placed on Indian ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius, we had the pleasure to savour and discover the only French production of tea, and organic on top of that! In Reunion Island, tea production is not a new thing. It has been introduced on the Island in 1965 as part of culture diversification. In 1967, renowned tea, the production amount to 29 tons and 40 tons in 1969 then stopped in 1972. In July 2005, Johnny Guichard took responsibility of an old exploitation of tea dates back to 1955 and refitted it.Perched at 1 100m altitude at the foot of primary forest of Reunion, the exploitation is located in Grand Coud at the south east of Reunion Island. The exploitation can boasts being the only tea production of France. However, Johnny Guichard has specialized in organic premium tea under the brand Le Labyrinthe En Champ Th with white tea and white tea-flavoured with many flavours; cinnamon, lemongrass, rosat geranium, lemon geranium, lemon eucalyptus, vanilla, mint, lemongrass. Family production, the exploitation of organic white tea of 3 hectares produces 4-6 tons of organic white tea per year. Tea Anecdote Despite the conventional wisdom, tea is not a shrub but a tree which could achieve 20 m in height. It is cut at breast height to allow the collection. Another idea unknown to the public, tea plants are grafted together naturally in forest. Their branches intersect and end up "merge". Production Process The harvesting of organic white tea from the exploitation is done throughout the year except in June and July. Tea production as any agricultural crop follows a specific process. The distinctive feature of the exploitation of the Labyrinth is that each step is done by hand. 1 - The first step is the cutting of tea plants. 2 - Tea culture : tea grows until it reaches its size of harvest.

3 - Picking : Once the tea has reached harvestable size, it is picked by hand. But not at any time of day, in the morning when the dew is still present. In Asia, they often practice imperial picking; only the small terminal bud is removed. But white tea harvesting can also be done by fin picking (bud and the two leaves after), which the Labyrinth uses. 4. Drying: tea is naturally dried in a workshop, away from the sun, on crates. 5. Flavour: tea-flavoured on the exploitation is made with different dried plants apart, then, they are mixed with the white tea. 6. Grinding : tea is ground by hand. 7. Triage: It is done by hand, the large stems is removed to keep only the leaves and buds. However it mays that thin stems manage to slip into the lot. 8. Packaging and labelling: it is still done by hand. The objective of the Labyrinth in a medium or long-term is to acquire a machine that can do this work and allow them to pack quicker larger quantities of white tea. What Makes A Good Tea If these operations seem simple what differentiates a good tea to a bad tea. Like good wine, good tea comes from a good soil. And Reunion Island in Grand Coud has the essential qualities for making a high-standard tea. Having been fallow for nearly 40 years, the soil is rich. Nevertheless, a good soil is a very good start but not only. Other determinants components are picking. The harvest time is critical. The Labyrinth En Champ Th makes this during the morning where the air is still cool and where dew is still present. Then, drying is also important. Tea must be dried at the time of packaging. This step allows a good preservation of tea. Certification In All This Organic tea and a conventional one make a difference on the tea quality. The benefits are obviously good for the environment and this is especially true for the Labyrinth En Champ Th which does not use of chemicals inputs and respects the ecosystem.The tea is even better. Certified "AB - Agriculture Biologique", the French equivalent of USDA Organic for US and Soil Association for UK, the exploitation must follow precise specifications and receives one scheduled visit of "AB" auditors once a year and unscheduled visits, 2 to 3 checks per year. The auditors shall audit the seeds, crops and how farmers operate on the tea. The audit is star with a theoretical phase which is verification of specifications and a practical phase on the field.

Also, the specificity of Grand Coud organic white tea is that, at any time, it is treated. The soil is fed with compost from tea plants. Tea is left to grow at its own pace without the use of chemical fertilizers and tea fields are left in their natural environment. The other feature is that there are no diseases or pests on the exploitation so far, so there is no need of treatment. Also, by manual labour at all stages of tea production, the balance of the ecosystem is preserved. Moreover, the exploitation is moving to a production in agro forestry in short-term (tea growing undergrowth) tea plants, being in the woods, will be shaded. One hand, it will allow to further increase the quality of tea and also to facilitate the picking. A Matter Of Taste White tea is tea, that undergoes the least processing where are took only the buds and young shoots (leaves, the two that follow). This is one of the reasons why white tea is a premium tea and has not a full flavored taste like green tea or black tea. White tea is known as the best tea but of course everyone has their preferences. White teas, like all teas, have antioxidant properties, but white tea is low in theine. Because of that this is a light tea that can be appreciated until the evening. White tea requires an infusion longer than green or black tea (15 mn). The organic white tea from Reunion gives off a nice sweetness on the palate that makes it subtle, without any bitterness. Namely, that those who prefer green tea to black tea, enjoy more. Focus On Other Types Of Teas Green tea: Green tea also requires a fine picking, that is to say the bud and two leaves next, but the work is not the same, the tea undergoes several operations which mainly roasting. Black Tea: This is a classic picking (bud + 4 to 5 leaves) that will undergo the same operations as green tea with an additional operation, fermentation, at the beginning of the course, which will give it its full-flavored. Also, the Labyrinth shows cultural visit of his genuine maze in size... made of tea plants! Of course.

Karine Fischer manages a website about organic - http://tiensshop.com/p37-ORGANIC-WHITETEA.html

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==== ==== For more information on Organic White Tea please check out; http://tiensshop.com/p37-ORGANIC-WHITE-TEA.html ==== ====