Why Freshly Harvested Tea Tastes Better
- Ross Thomson
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
When people think of great tea-growing regions, countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, and Japan often come to mind. Few realise that some of Europe's most remarkable teas are grown on a small volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Azores, an archipelago located around 900 miles west of mainland Portugal, are home to one of the world's most unique tea-growing regions. Thanks to fertile volcanic soils, abundant rainfall, mild temperatures, and cooling ocean mists, tea plants thrive here in conditions unlike anywhere else in Europe.
It's from this extraordinary landscape that our new Azores Ponta Branca Orange Pekoe originates.
A Rare Tea-Growing Region
Tea production in Europe is exceptionally uncommon. While tea is cultivated across Asia, Africa, and parts of South America, only a handful of commercial tea gardens exist within Europe.
The Azores have been growing tea for over a century, yet production remains relatively small compared to the world's major tea-growing regions. This limited output means many tea drinkers never get the opportunity to experience tea from this fascinating part of the world.
What makes Azorean tea particularly interesting is the environment in which it grows. The combination of volcanic soils, Atlantic weather systems, and slower leaf development helps create teas with remarkable balance, smoothness, and character.
Why Freshness Is So Important
Tea is often viewed as a pantry staple, but at its heart it is an agricultural product. Like coffee, herbs, or spices, tea changes over time. While properly stored tea can remain enjoyable for many months, the brightest aromas and most vibrant flavours are often found closer to harvest.
This is especially true for carefully crafted orthodox teas such as Orange Pekoe, where delicate floral notes, natural sweetness, and subtle complexity are part of what makes the tea special.
That's why, whenever possible, we look to secure teas as soon after harvest as we can.
From This Year's Harvest
Our Azores Ponta Branca Orange Pekoe comes from this year's harvest on São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores. Rather than waiting for the tea to pass through multiple layers of distribution, we secured our allocation directly after harvest. This allows us to offer the tea while it is still displaying the freshness and vibrancy that make newly harvested teas so rewarding to drink.
For tea enthusiasts, experiencing a tea closer to harvest can provide a clearer expression of the garden, season, and growing conditions that shaped it.
Preserving Freshness Every Step of the Way
Securing a fresh harvest is only part of the story. Once tea arrives, how it is stored becomes equally important.
To help maintain the freshness, aroma, and flavour of our Azores tea, we transfer it into vacuum-sealed storage upon arrival. By reducing exposure to oxygen, we help preserve the character of the tea for longer and protect the qualities that made us choose it in the first place. It's an extra step, but one we believe is worthwhile when dealing with exceptional teas.
Our goal is simple: to bring tea lovers as close as possible to the experience intended by the tea maker, from harvest through to the final cup.
A Taste of the Atlantic
The result is a tea that reflects its unique origin. Our Azores Ponta Branca Orange Pekoe offers a smooth and refined cup with gentle sweetness, bright character, and a clean finish. It's approachable enough for everyday enjoyment, yet distinctive enough to showcase why tea from the Azores continues to intrigue tea lovers around the world.
For those seeking something beyond the familiar tea-growing regions, it offers an opportunity to explore one of Europe's most remarkable tea origins.
Discover One of Europe's Rarest Teas
The Azores Ponta Branca Orange Pekoe is exactly the kind of tea we love to discover. Grown on a small volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic, harvested at its peak, and brought to us while still wonderfully fresh, it offers a rare glimpse into one of the world's most unusual tea-growing regions.
By sourcing it soon after harvest and carefully storing it in vacuum-sealed containers on arrival, we've done our best to preserve the character that makes this tea so special. The result is a tea that captures not only the unique conditions of São Migue, but also preserved at its peak. Don't miss this opportunity to try the freshest tea.
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