These are photos of the tea plantations located in Munnar in the state of Kerala, in southwestern India. A paradise for tea lovers (myself included :-) that welcomes you with its emerald green hills that stretch as far as the eye can see, mist-shrouded valleys, and the soothing scent of freshly picked tea leaves: the Munnar plantations represent the true soul of this mountain locale.
Here, tea cultivation was introduced by the British in the 19th century, and today the region is home to the highest tea plantations in the world, with spectacular vistas at altitudes of up to 2,400 meters; it is precisely this microclimate that contributes to making the tea from this area particularly prized. In Munnar, every tea farm offers a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for slowing down and immersing yourself completely in nature, as well as a history made of tradition and artisanal passion, where it is possible to discover the traditional methods of tea processing and the different stages of drying, from the picking of the most tender leaves to the final packaging.
Visiting a tea plantation, whether in India, China, or Japan, allows you to understand the care, the artisanal tradition, and also the hard work hidden behind every cup — most of the time, this work, which is still manual, is done by women.
A challenge for the future
When I arrived in Munnar, the first thing I noticed among these dazzling green fields were the women, with their colorful saris and elegant posture under baskets heavy with leaves — but above all their smiles, even after a hot day spent in the fields picking tea among the bushes. Those women, whom I have seen in India but also in Sri Lanka, Rwanda, and other tea plantations, are my source of inspiration, and every morning when I put the leaves in the infuser to prepare my tea, I think of them, of the effort that goes into every single leaf, and the importance of knowing and valuing the work of those who cultivate, pick, and package the tea that allows us to drink tea, coffee, and even eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
Behind a cup of tea, a coffee, or a chocolate bar, there is still a great deal of manual labor today. The harvesting of tea leaves, coffee berries, and cocoa beans requires experience, precision, and a lot of hard work in the fields. In many production areas, finding available workers is becoming increasingly difficult. The new generations are not interested in seasonal agricultural work, which is physically demanding and often carried out in rural areas far from major population centers. The problem is particularly evident in crops where mechanization is limited. In high-quality tea, for example, it is essential to select only the youngest and most tender leaves — the hands of women, which are smaller, are invaluable for this type of harvest.
The shortage of workers poses a challenge for the entire supply chain. It can affect harvesting times, product quality, and the ability of farms to keep alive techniques and knowledge passed down through time. Fortunately, there are still many women who, by choice or necessity, dedicate themselves to the cultivation and harvesting of tea — but the future of tea, like that of many other natural resources, will depend more and more on the ability to make agricultural work more attractive, safe, and sustainable, through better working conditions, training, adequate wages, and new technologies that can support, without completely replacing, human experience.
The TeaologyCARE project
Teaology was born from a love for tea, a miraculous plant that has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years in Southeast Asia, where it grows with organoleptic characteristics that are unique in the world, allowing for the production of the most prized types of tea.
After my first trips to the tea plantations of the world, we discovered that behind every tea leaf is the work of extraordinary women who, with their small and delicate hands, are able to pick and process even the smallest leaves while keeping their nutritional principles intact.
To safeguard the ancient tradition of this craft, protect women's work, and protect biodiversity in crops, Teaology launched a project in 2018 called TeaologyCARE aimed at safeguarding the thousand-year-old tradition of a craft done primarily by women, protecting female labor, implementing concrete interventions to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of rural areas, and protecting biodiversity.
TeaologyCARE wants to contribute to this change, with special attention to the reality and difficulties faced by the most vulnerable women.
We have developed projects with tea-growing communities in Sri Lanka, India, and Rwanda. Small gestures that represent concrete help for women working on tea farms and their children, but also projects that allow the next generation to have the means, including cultural ones, to improve the reality in which they live and promote awareness of issues related to health and social problems.
We are ready for new chapters of TeaologyCARE, the initiative that brings together activities to support working women living in disadvantaged contexts. If you have a project to propose to us, write to us at hello@teaologyskincare.com and we will evaluate it together. Sustainability, before starting with the planet, starts with its inhabitants and its women.
