Canada's First Tea Farm

Canada is a massive geographic country, each region distinctive with its own culture and character. British Columbia is unique as it is surrounded by the sea and the mountains. The pace is more unique that it is more relaxed than Ontario but there is a certain cultural culinary adventure in its core that is more daring-.

**Ferns underfoot everywhere**
theloveofteamag

Thank you to those who share this journey including Pat and Jane who helped us weave the roads of the west coast to share the adventure and awe in nature.

an eclectic experience of tea + clay + nature

by Carol Mark

Universal language of tea

Best Tea we Can Make-UNIQUE!

Victor and Margit ’s tea paradise is located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Tea farm is tea + art + nature -they are purveyors of organic loose tea, creators of artful tea blends and pioneer growers of Canadian tea. This latter point is where my excitement begins as I first got wind of this tea farm when I was studying for my certification to become a tea sommelier.

Incredible, I thought. It seemed like a miracle since Camellia Sinensis plants, which make both black and green tea, grow in tropical climates, places like India and Sri Lanka.

As we turned off the main street and followed a bumpy, winding road surrounded by trees, I spotted a small neatly lettered sign: tree farm. Along the curving driveway I could see what appeared to be miniature tea bushes. I could scarcely believe my eyes! Later, Victor told me that after five years they will be getting their first harvest this year. I am so excited only to be totally disappointed. There is a four year wait period with orders coming in from as far as Russia. I put my name on the wait list. The tea will be accompanied by a hand made vessel created by Margit, who is a self-taught ceramic artist . Patience is part of the tea journey.

Canada's first tea farm.

**Tea in Margit's special teapot creations**
theloveofteamag

I don’t even get to have a tasting of the first harvest, but I am treated to a special time of their blended Mad Hatter Tea, notes of black with a smudge of smokiness with homemade Earl Grey Shortbread. The blended Chinese black tea is smooth as silk on my tongue and its warm tones blend with the bites of Earl Grey shortbread.

Pioneers in new West Coast tradition!

Tea Farm is nestled in a valley a former dairy farm, and according to Victor the Chinese labourers who worked the land 100 years ago planted tea trees in the area. But that is legend of the past and now there are 800 plants growing and tended since 2000. I note 8 rows of tea plants just outside the main entrance: Victor who is knowledgeable and not fearing to try new ideas stated he was trying some on higher attitudes to experiment how the terroir soil would affect the taste profiles. Victor chuckles remembering the challenges of the deer who loved nibbling on the tea leaves. Then there was a fallen Maple tree who was turned into wood chips to be used for the earth. All these nuances of life are taken in stride to anticipate the final tea product. Victor waits quietly for the next year hoping the extremes of weather with being hot and dry will stress the plants and create a more intense flavour.

Victor reminds me that, “tea is one of the most labour intensive agricultural practices up there with saffron and the vanilla bean”. He is proud of this crafted art and to be part of tea pioneering in Canada and to “share with the world”. Margit shares the evolution of tea in a “contemporary way” honouring the “way of tea” into the 21st century.