I love tea. I love it in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, at breakfast or before going to bed. It doesn’t matter when or where – nothing comes between me and my cup of tea. So when I heard that there are tea plantations in the north of Thailand, I got really excited. I just had to see it with my own eyes!
Choui Fong Tea Plantation
Not long after, we hopped on the motorbike and rode to Choui Fong Tea Plantation in Chiang Rai province. When we entered the plantation site, all we could see were… well, lots of tea plants. The hills were covered with tea plants, row after row after row. Amazing!
Into the tea fields
From a distance, amid the small groups of Thai and Chinese tourists, we noticed a group of people picking tea. We snuck off into the tea fields and made our way to the group. Once there, we were greeted warmly by the pickers. Their boss didn’t seem to mind our presence either. We asked if we were allowed to take a picture, to which they shyly agreed.
It was a very tranquil place: the chirping birds and the picking of tea leaves being the only distinguishable sounds. Check out the video below for a sneak peek!
Drinking tea
After having seen up close how the tea was picked by hand (kudos to the tea pickers), of course we wanted to know what it tasted like as well. So we rode up to the tea house, where we were allowed to taste all kinds of different teas and delicious treats. So nice!
Finally, we enjoyed a fantastic view, whilst enjoying our favorite tea (Jin Xuan Oolong Tea).
Getting there
The Choui Fong Tea Plantation is located in the north of Thailand, about 24 kilometers north of Chiang Rai. The plantation is open to the public from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Just follow the signs that read “Mae Fa Luang” along the Mae Sai highway.
The plantation is a tad touristy (buses full of tourists keep coming and going), but definitely worth a visit if you love tea. It’s quite something to see where the tea you drink actually comes from. There’s also a small souvenir shop that sells all kinds of tea.
Best Hotels Chiang Rai
Baan Jaru - $$
Located in the heart of Chiang Rai is cozy Baan Jaru, a small-scale hotel run with a lot of care and attention. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a small fridge, a wifi connection and a flat screen TV. The family that runs it knows all of Chiang Rai’s highlights by heart and will be happy to help you plan your trip. A well-deserved recommendation!
