Field Notes by Rene

Tea plantations in Chiang Mai, Thailand, are famous for their beautiful landscapes and high-quality tea. Located in the mountains, they benefit from a cool climate and rich soil, perfect for growing green, oolong, and black teas.

So, being the serial tea drinker that I am, it was a no-brainer—I had to visit a tea plantation. 

Araksa Tea Garden is a serene and picturesque tea plantation known for its sustainable and organic farming practices. Set amidst lush greenery and rolling hills, the garden specialises in producing high-qualitea green tea.

First off, we signed up for the tea garden tour, which promised an immersive dive into the tea universe. Our first task? Tea bud plucking. Let’s just say, I have better luck collecting leg scratches on the tea plantation than spotting tea buds.

I probably gathered only enough to make a cuppa for an ant, but fear not—our guide (I’m calling him the Tea-cher) and my buddy Jarp came to the rescue, plucking enough buds to make up for my lack of tea-plucking abili-teas.

Next stop: the processing area, where the real magic happens. Picture this: a lady, a wok, and a charcoal stove. And she’s frying those tea buds… with her bare hands! Who needs spatulas, right? It was like watching an episode of Hell’s Kitchen—hot, s-tea-my, and slightly dangerous.

We were invited to come closer to check out the process and I’m pretty sure my eyebrows were sweating. Meanwhile, this lady was as cool as Chiang Mai’s winter. I strongly suspect the heat receptors on her hands are dead.

The Tea-cher then dropped some truth bombs about this traditional art of tea roasting—with fewer people willing to dive into this super tedious, years of experience needed and time-consuming tea-roasting rabbit hole, we will eventually lose out on the ‘human touch’ in tea roasting. I can’t help but feel a little sad, then again, it’s a sign of the times.

Next, we visited the tea factory, followed by light snacks. We were served Araksa’s green tea and traditional Thai rice crackers. The crispy crackers were bought from locals who harvest their own rice and make them all by hand. This not only generates local income but also helps to promote traditional Thai snacks.

Feeling a little hungry, but not starved enough for a full meal, we ordered a ‘yum bai cha tod’ – crispy deep-fried tea leaves with a spicy cashew and minced chicken dressing, to complement our snack time. 

The dish was an explosion of flavours and textures. Coated with a tempura-like batter, the tea leaves were incredibly crunchy while the spicy dressing added a nice kick. It felt a little greasy halfway through the plate, but the refreshing iced green tea did the trick.

All in all, our visit to Araksa Tea Garden was a tea-rrific experience. From plucking tea buds and watching traditional tea roasting to tasting unique tea dishes, it was a fantastic dive into Chiang Mai’s tea culture. 

If you are ever in Chiang Mai, come check out this beautiful plantation. It’s not just about the tea – it’s about the tradition, the communitea, and the locals that make Araksa Tea Garden special. 

Adult: THB 650/person
Children (2-12 years): THB 325/person ​
Tour Times: 9am, 11am and 2pm
Tour Duration: ~1.30 hours
For more information
Website: https://www.araksatea.com/