Terroir

/tɛrˈwɑː,French tɛrwar/

Guranse is located between an altitude of 3,300ft and 7,300ft above sea level, one of the highest elevation tea gardens in the world. The high elevation, colder temperatures and steep hills cause the plants to grow at a slower rate but this results in our teas having more complex flavors.

Colder temperatures mean the plants have to send carbohydrates to the tea leaves in order to promote (quicker) growth. The higher content of carbohydrates in leaves results in beautiful sweet and fragrant tea.

Being at such a high elevation reduces the number of insects in the area. Bitterness in tea usually comes from polyphenic compounds that develop as natural pest control but colder temperatures means fewer insects which means the plants produce fewer bitter compounds.

The steep rolling hills, which can sometimes cause problems when there’s little to no rain, help us achieve more intense flavor profiles as the natural drainage reduces the amount of excess water in the leaves which results in more intense flavor compounds. During dryer seasons, we have pumps and water sources to make sure the plants get enough water.

Our estate is divided into three sections and the majority of our estate is south-facing which means we get great sun almost all throughout the year! One thing to note is the change in the rainfall pattern most likely due to global warming causing monsoon rains to start later and last longer with heavier rain. It usually rains during the wintertime as well, however we have not seen any rain for the past few years.

As the climate is constantly changing we have to keep up and ensure our bushes are healthy and getting enough nutrients, sun, water and proper maintenance to produce succulent leaves so we can continue producing some of the finest teas.