Tea Plantation

On a perfect day, a few of us visited a tea farm an hour from campus.  The owner, a third generation tea farmer, gave a fascinating presentation on growing tea and then served us lunch. 

It was most interesting to learn that Kenya is the largest exporter of tea in the world.  

China makes more tea, but with its large population, they export less.

 It wouldn't be a farm without a farm dog.

 The families tea farm started in their front yard in the early 1900s.  

Above is a tea plant that was left to over grow.

In the foreground and middle are the pruned tea bushes. 

The lighter bushes in the back are picked every two weeks.

If you look closely you can see rows that the pickers use.

 White, green and black tea are all made from the leaves of one stalk, 

coming in order from the first three leaves of the new growth.

 There are four qualities, respectively, that are sifted for sale.

 Above is a loose leaf sold from the owners tea, processed in a local factory.

The rest of the tea is shipped for auction to Mombasa, on the coast of Kenya.  

Companies like Lipton and others buy their tea from Kenya.

 "And now you know the rest of the story," as they say.