Tea and coffee growing is very labor intensive, particularly coffee growing. You can see how much of the cultivation must be done by hand.
The tea grows on waist-high shrubs and teapickers cut the tender new leaves at the top of the plant. 
They cut the leaves with shears attached to which is a plastic container into which the young, cut tea leaves drop. When the plastic container is full of tea leaves, the picker throws them over his shoulder into a lightweight basket on his back.
A light, cool drizzle helped to infuse our walk with the loamy smell of tea. Delightful and serene.
Great reminders that the people who actually do the work need suitable payment. Looking for 'bargain' tea and coffee may not be the ethical purchase! Thanks for the great photos, Pam.
ReplyDeleteAfrica seems more open to "organic" and fair trade that the US. Starbucks supports the cocoa growers in West Africa. Support your local Starbucks!
ReplyDeleteStill think that the best tea in the world comes from Satemwa.
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