When one thinks of tea plantations, places like China, Sri Lanka or India come to mind. Certainly, I’d never thought of Thailand as a tea-growing area, but as I found out on my last visit to the country, that was a mistaken impression.
We visited Choui Fong, one of Thailand’s largest and best-known tea estates. It rests in the hills in the northern part of the country, in Chiang Rai Province. The name is said to mean “green peak.”
Last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo (see below) featured a portion of the Choui Fong plantation, including part of its pond. As usual, it was recognized by George G.
Choui Fong is a working family owned and run plantation. Visitors come to see and walk in the terraced hillsides, to enjoy its café and fine views, and to purchase tea products grown on site in its gift shop.
The founder of Choui Fong was a man named Tawee Wanaspitaksakul, who began planting tea in 1977 on land that had been relatively barren. The work grew out of a Royal Project for highland agricultural development intended to give hill communities a cash crop (as an option to the extensive opium being grown at the time). This visitor estate, measuring roughly 1.6 square kilometers, opened later (around 2003–2005) as the company expanded.
Elevation is typically cited around 1000 meters, cool enough for oolong, green, black, and Assam-style teas. Leaves are hand-picked.
If you visit:
It is about a 40 minute car ride to Choui Fong from Chiang Rai city
Entry is free.
Hours are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. You explore on your own as there is no guided tour.
The draw is the hilltop Choui Fong cafe. The menu features their own oolong and green teas, tea desserts, cakes, and light food, with lovely panoramic view over the fields.
There is a shop for loose-leaf tea and souvenir purchases.
A colorful koi pond adjoins the cafe.
My wife and I enjoy tea, although we’re far from experts. And the tea here is very tasty and refreshing. Give it a try when you’re in the area.
