I Visited One of Thailand's Oldest Organic Tea Farms-and It Was One of the Most Moving Travel Experiences I've Had

"As I set my first tea leaf into my basket, I caught a glimpse of hers-and my jaw dropped. It was already half full! Turns out, the whole time we'd been strolling through the garden, her deft hands had been nonchalantly plucking perfect leaves nonstop, a testament to the long-practiced craft that produces some of the world's best tea at Araksa Tea Garden."

"The farm, with its sustainable practices that prioritize the soil and ecosystem's health, was the first commercial tea operation in Thailand to earn USDA and EU organic certifications. While on an Intrepid Travel tour of Northern Thailand a few months back, I initially wondered why we were driving north of the city center into the hillside community of Ban Chang in the Mae Tarng District. But the moment we arrived at the 111-acre oasis, a sense of calm drew me in."

Araksa Tea Garden occupies 111 acres in Ban Chang, Mae Taeng District, north of Chiang Mai, situated above 1,706 feet on rolling hills. The farm cultivates predominantly local "jungle tea" and Assam hybrids adapted to the region's soil and climate, with many plants around forty years old. Sustainable practices prioritize soil and ecosystem health, and the operation was the first commercial tea farm in Thailand to earn USDA and EU organic certification. Skilled hand-plucking and careful, gentle processing contribute to distinctive flavor and aroma profiles.

Read at Travel + Leisure