15/03/2023
Enjoying a cup of tea is an ancient tradition and one of vast cultural richness. Tea is produced all over the world, from Japan to India, but the only variety that has successfully adapted to Peruvian soil is the species ‘Camellia sinensis’ of Chinese origin. It is one of the main crops that Inkaterra produces. But which of all our properties is dedicated to it?
Located in the cloud forest you will find Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a property of exquisite natural beauty that features a one-hectare organic and chemical-free tea plantation. All the tea that we serve to travelers and that is offered as a welcome drink or during teatime is handmade and produced on-property using the following process:
We harvest and collect the leaves for about a day when the new shoots begin to grow. The age of the new leaves (which must be between 25 and 30 days) and the number of leaves taken from each branch are determining factors in the quality of the tea being produced. We then begin the wilting process to soften the leaves into more pliable sheets ready for rolling. The action of rolling not only forms the tea leaves into strips, but it also causes essential oils and sap from inside the leaf to be released, further enhancing the flavor of the tea.
Once rolled, we place the leaves in ceramic bowls and keep them in a humid environment at a consistent temperature of 22 degrees Celsius for 12 hours. The leaves will begin to dry which stops the fermentation process at a particular point. A loose drying process produces tea high amount of water and runs the risk of getting mildew. A strong or prolonged drying process, however, eliminates the aroma and makes a large amount of insolubility in the leaf.
When the drying stage is complete, we make the final selection of the leaves, which pass through sieves of various scales. Then, we ranked them based on appearance and size. By making a few simple adjustments to the processing method and keeping the same plant, we can create various different tea types such as: Blach, Green, White, Red or Blue teas. At Inkaterra, we use our leaves to produce Black and Green tea.
The whole process can be experienced by guests, who are invited to visit the Tea House and participate in the production of tea during their stay at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Once complete, they can enjoy the tea — hot, cold or in a cocktail. The best way to enjoy our tea, however, is with a Tea Leaf treatment at the Unu Spa, an entirely ancestral experience.
Anyone who wants to enjoy a bit of tea can purchase our products in the hotel gift shop.
