Love a cuppa? Try 3 of the best tea-inspired trips

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In the same way as many people in the UK, I start – and often end – the day with a hot, comforting cup of tea.

 

It’s the most popular beverage in the world, after water, and is the lynchpin of a growing ‘tea tourism’ industry.

 

As travellers increasingly look to combine slow travel with wellness, local culture and authentic food experiences – and particularly as many millennial and Gen Z clients seek out alternatives to alcohol – strolling through a tea plantation or taking part in a traditional tea ceremony can be a way to offer clients deeper immersion in their chosen destination.

 

Whether it’s masala chai in India, a perfectly sweetened mint tea in Morocco, antioxidant-rich matcha in Japan, high-caffeine yerba mate in Argentina or even a yak butter tea in parts of Tibet, there are almost endless opportunities to turn tea traditions into a reason to travel.

 

Here, we go to the ancient roots of tea culture in China then explore other Asian nations where the love of tea has taken hold, with tea-inspired trips to suit all budgets and brews.

 

China

 

Tea lovers with a taste for adventure should consider a visit to China, the birthplace of tea and the world’s biggest producer, churning out more than two million tonnes of tea per year. An escorted tour is the easiest way to truly get to grips with this vast nation, and Mercury Holidays’ 14-day Glorious China itinerary combines hilly tea-growing landscapes with fast-paced modern cities.

 

After settling into Shanghai’s subtropical climate – with excursions to the pagoda-packed Yuyuan Gardens and the picturesque floating town of Zhujiajiao – clients fly down to Guilin in Guangxi. Guilin’s 99-acre Tea Science and Research Institute covers everything your clients might want to know about the magic of tea production, from the climate it requires to the rolling, shaking, withering and baking processes, as well as the medicinal properties of a brew.

 

Clients will get to explore a plantation, where they can breathe in the earthy scent of the soil and put their taste buds to the test identifying the differences between five local varieties, since Guilin is known for producing white tea, green tea and even infusions made from osmanthus blooms.

 

A tranquil cruise along the Li River brings the group to Yangshuo, a town dominated by foliage covered karsts where clients can explore the markets and sleepy streets by bike or on foot.

 

The trip continues to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors, before finishing in Beijing, where they’ll visit a traditional teahouse for a tea ceremony. Water is heated to the optimum temperature for the type of tea (in this case, oolong), while the host teaches travellers about the complex history and etiquette surrounding the consumption of Chinese tea.

 

Book it: Mercury Holidays’ 14-day Glorious China tour starts at £2,699 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes all meals, ground transport, excursions and flights from Heathrow on October 21.
mercuryholidays.co.uk

 

Japan