|
Mauritius produces tea, but tea plants
are not cultivated on large surfaces, the production is
enough for the local market and some are exported but not
enough to export in large quantity.
Tea has been introduced during the French colonization which
was around 1765.
There is in Mauritius around six active estates cultivating
tea on the island. There are four factories which are
operated by the Mauritius Tea Company and two others are
private Bois Cheri and Corson, the two main teas seen in the
supermarkets. Bois Cheri produces for both local and
exportation market, Corson is mainly for local market.
|
 |
Tea time in the afternoon is very important for the
Mauritian they can’t miss the tea time, this is something
that must have been left from the British colony.
Most Mauritian mainly drinks tea more than coffee. Mauritian
usually drinks one kilo of tea per person. Most of them use
to drink tea with milk never without, they can’t stand
drinking just pure tea.
In 1760, a French priest named Father Galloys introduced a
tea plant called Camellia Sinensis and in 1770, Pierre
Poivre planted the tea plant in large scale.
Until the British arrived, the tea was more a museum plant.
It was only when the Governor Robert Farquar was governing
that he encouraged in tea cultivation he even had a tea
garden at Le Réduit but when he left the island, the
plantation was abandoned.
It was only 70 years later, when Sir John Pope Hennessy was
on the island that he restarted the tea cultivation. At this
moment plantation started in Chamarel and Nouvelle France.
In Bois Cheri you can also visit the Bois Cheri Museum to
learn more about the tea industry in Mauritius.
So while visiting Mauritius you can’t miss tea time in the
afternoon.
