Frequently Asked Questions

Why travel to tea?

If you love tea and want to really learn about tea you must go abroad to where tea is grown. This is our passion, to heighten your knowledge of tea, taking it to new levels in the very places it is grown, instructed by true experts in the field. Literally in the field with a tea professional!

Can you imagine walking a row of exquisitely manicured tea bushes high in the mountains on a misty Sri Lankan morning? Or, watching Dragon Well green tea being carefully swirled in large wok-like pans near Hangzhou, the ancient capital of China? Want to be spellbound by the aroma of two tons of tea wilting on the production floor of one of the world's foremost green tea producers? Come with us! We'll take you where this is possible...

How long will it take?

Most travel2tea tours give you 5-6 days of full day tea experience. Then we open the agenda to you and the members of your exclusive group to add cultural experiences that suit your interests. You may choose from our pre-planned itineraries, or consult with our in-country travel experts for a more customized approach. If shopping is more appealing than a day on the beach, then you get to choose. This is what makes travel2tea unique, and why you will take home meaningful personal memories, not snapshots that anyone on a standard tour would end up showing upon their return.

What will we see?

Tea is a wild plant that has been domesticated for hundreds (even thousands) of years. Depending on which country you choose to visit you may see different methods of growing and processing tea leaves. The best Ceylon tea is grown at higher elevations in the central mountain range of Sri Lanka. There you would see lush green hillsides spilling down into a mist shrouded river valley or lake. Near Suzhou, China, you might watch expertly skilled fingers picking the tiny leaf buds that make Pi Luo Chun, one of the most famous of China's green teas. You will walk down emerald green rows of tea that undulate with the contours of the land beneath them, creating fantastic thirty acre horticultural quilts.

You will see how the tea is taken from a freshly plucked leaf or bud and transformed into a stable product that can be packaged and shipped around the world. You might see white tea being carefully spread out on bamboo drying shelves, or 5 foot diameter woven bamboo trays. The exact experience will be determined by where and when you go. Call us to find out the specifics about your choice.

Where will we stay?

travel2tea is proud to offer you two levels of service. We will always give you above average accommodations on our Sterling Level tours. Most people think of three stars for this kind of lodging experience. If you want to really pamper yourself and those traveling with you, choose our Platinum Level for luxury that meets or exceeds 4 and 5 star travel industry standards. We do the work of finding the most memorable villa, resort or hotel in each growing region we visit. We promise your satisfaction, or your nights stay is on us. Traveling to where tea is grown is sometimes off the beaten path and we will make sure you know exactly what to expect before you agree to come along with travel2tea. We want all of your surprises to be the kind that delight you.

Who leads the tour?

Your tour will be hosted by a tea industry professional, who can answer all of your questions about the particular area you are visiting. You will have time to drink tea at leisure, sample many different teas to broaden your palate, and enjoy unique, in-the-field tea experiences.