Malanda, Queensland, Australia is up in the Tablelands inland from Cairns, and much cooler weather wise. It's a beautiful drive up that way. We came across a Tea plantation called Nerada Tea so we stopped and had a look around, most enjoyable and we bought some tea which I always drank until I decided to have a change.
Interesting - the plantation is not irrigated relying on water from the sky. These days the plantation is the largest in Australia.
On the Nerada Tea plantation, plants are grown predominantly to make black tea. It takes about 8 years from planting for the Camellia sinensis to reach its full harvest potential. Only the tender new growth (two leaves and a bud) are harvested to make tea. Due to Australia's strict quarantine laws the tea bush has no natural pests in Australia and hence no pesticides are used in cultivation.
The history of Nerada Tea is here, and I believe that these days the tea room is permanently closed. When we visited it wasn't.
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| One paddock of tea and an old shed below. |
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| The tea leaves |
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| The tea rooms are no more. The map with the read around Malanda the tea plantation is somewhere within that area |
Beautiful photos of your car ride.
ReplyDeleteThe tea plantation is beautiful to see.
Greetings Irma
Thanks Irma. Something different from me.
DeleteI have never been a big fan of tea. Coffee….that’s another matter!
ReplyDeleteDavid
DeleteI too much prefer top quality coffee. But why close the tea rooms if they want people to admire the taste of Australian tea?
Good question Hels, probably wasn't profitable, as we know money is the key, however, that doesn't help sampling the tea in the cafe.
DeleteWe prefer tea to coffee yet I do have a coffee machine. Probably have a coffee once every 2 months, but people who visit well, I'm always making coffee.
DeleteA large area.
ReplyDeleteYes, Anne it is.
DeleteInteresting reading about the tea plantation. I love black tea later in the day but coffee is my choice in the morning.
ReplyDeleteIt's good you drink both, Bill. I have tea for breakfast and probably that will be the only cup I have for the day, coffee once every 2 months, I guess.
DeleteThe tea plantation looks quite beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt was good to stand and look over the vast area of tea growing, Angie.
DeleteHow interesting that it is largely organic and doesn't get irrigated.
ReplyDeleteAmazing for Australia, EC.
DeleteI have heard of Nerada Tea although I don't drink it as I don't drink tea or coffee, I didn't know the plantation is in Qld or anything else about it and find that it isn't irrigated interesting
ReplyDeleteYes it's interesting that they get enough water and it's basically an organic tea crop/s. I guess you drink water, Jo-Anne, I drink water.
DeleteΕνδιαφερουσες πληροφοριες σχετικα με την ποικιλία Camellia sinensis
ReplyDeleteΜου αρεσει το χειμωνα να πινω τσαι
Yes, it's interesting about the variety of tea. Coffee in summer I presume.
DeletePhoto #3 has seen better days!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been up there many years ago - it is interesting, but
living there with storms etc. - no way.
Cheers
Colin
PS: Terrigal weather - guess !!!!! Bloody rain all the time.
And just up in the Hunter - minor but scary earthquakes!
We have been up the tea way several times but only came across Nerada once, so maybe we went a different road or didn't take any notice when going along the road. Yes, the poor old building has seen better days, probably fallen down now.
DeleteHeard about the earthquake, once there was one in Queenstown (Tasmania) and we all jumped out of bed, just everyone in their PJ's way back when I was about 12. No damage done, thank goodness, but the earth shook for sure.
A miracle - not TRUMP and his clowns (oops _ Calamity and I don't mean
Deletethe Doris Day version) - but the sun is shining!
That's interesting. Loved seeing the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary.
DeleteQuerida amiga, Interesante post sobre la plantación de té, es maravilloso.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos y te dejo un besito, que tengas un feliz día
Thank you Liz.
DeleteI'd forgotten Nerada Tea was Australian grown. I don't drink tea very often though lately I've had tea almost as often as Milo and I think I might be on the changeover road. Milo is far too expensive now in spite of containing cheaper soy and rice as fillers, where once it was just barley, cocoa and sugar, way beack in the 50s and 60s, maybe the 70s.
ReplyDeleteI drink milo too, and yes, it's become expensive but summer time I drink water instead.
DeleteThat's really interesting, I had no idea that tea was grown in Australia. Great photos, a fun tour and enjoyed looking at the map as always. Thanks Margaret!
ReplyDeleteI didn't either until we went up that way and noticed the signs. 😊
DeleteThanks Denise.
I do enjoy my cups of tea and I enjoyed your photographs and reading about the tea plantation.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan, nothing like a cuppa.
DeleteNo sabía que cultivaban Te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteWe learn a lot from others on the internet, don't we JP.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteNice pictures. Special with the fields of tea.
A nice place.
Many greetings,
Marco
Thank you Marco.
DeleteI have never really given much thought to where tea comes from, but it all makes sense. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I never/we, didn't either until we came across the sign, one we hadn't noticed before.
DeleteMuy interesante Margaret. Feliz domingo.
ReplyDeleteThank you Teresa.
DeleteAnd nice tea it is, too. I've not had any for a while, though, I must admit.
ReplyDeleteI'm drinking a lot of herbal teas at present.
It is nice tea and available down here at the supermarkets still which is good, Lee. Never had herbal tea, must try sometime.
DeleteLovely scenic place
ReplyDeleteI agree Ashok.
DeleteBuenas imagenes estas que nos presentas hoy, amiga
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteHi Margaret,
ReplyDeleteIn my country (Turkiye) tea is very popular and is drunk all the time. Although I prefer coffee, it makes me happy to see that it is available in your country as well. Your photos look lovely as always. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a happy week. :) ♥
Thank you. Australia also imports tea from many countries as well as growing it's own tea.
DeleteThose plantations and judging by the photos have to be very special and transmit that smell and aroma that define them apart from their beauty.
ReplyDeleteHappy week.
Best regards.
Was a lovely smell and also coffee is also grown near there too.
DeleteQuesto viaggio alla scoperta del tè australiano è stato molto interessante.
ReplyDeleteGrazie per le splendide foto
You are welcome Stefania.
DeleteThanks for writing about Camellia sinensis and black tea plantations. I really like beautiful scenery in tea plantations because have a fresh air arround there....
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Mbul.
DeleteTambém em Portugal, concretamente nos Açores, existem plantações de chá.
ReplyDeleteAbraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Thanks for that information.
DeleteTake care.
Em Portugal, mais concretamente em S. Miguel, Açores, existe uma grande plantação de chá que já visitei. Adoro chá tanto quente como frio.
ReplyDelete*
Abraço/beijinho.
*/*
Ilusões e Poesia ...
*/*
That's good you have visited and you like both cold and hot tea...I don't mind cold but prefer hot.
DeleteI have never visited a tea plantation. Nice to know it is pesticide free.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to visit as long as someone can explain about the tea, Hena.
DeleteTake care.
What a fascinating glimpse into the Nerada Tea plantation! It’s impressive that the plantation relies solely on rainfall and doesn’t use pesticides, showcasing a natural approach to tea production. The fact that it takes eight years for the tea plants to fully mature is an eye-opener too. The scenic drive through the Tablelands must have made the visit even more memorable.
ReplyDeleteI just shared a new post, and I invite you to read: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/11/lessons-to-learn-from-lost-children.html
You have read the post well, Melody. 😎
DeleteHello Margaret
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know that there were tea plantations in Australia. Tea always reminds me of India and Africa. I really like tea, I drink it every day, but mainly with juices, most often raspberry juice - from my own micro plantation. Tea with raspberry juice is good all year round.
Warm regards.
I didn't know they we grew tea in Australia either, or coffee beans until we travelled in that area.
DeleteI've never heard of raspberry juice with tea, sounds nice.
I love to drink green and black tea coming from different areas. I believe Malanda tea has a unique characteristic. As for tea, fresher is better. I hope the teahouse will open again to enjoy the newest condition.
ReplyDeleteI don't reckon the cafe/teahouse will open again, well not whilst the present owner is there. Fresh is always better with most products.
Deleterefreshing drive to cooler part :)
ReplyDeletethe Nerada tea has interesting details indeed .8 years for a plant to harvest omg ,quite a period of time
sad the room is closed permanently now
Yes it does take a long time for that particular tea to mature, Baili - we would all go thirsty whilst waiting. 😎
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