Since the beginning of the millennium, the number of people growing tea in Europe has been steadily increasing. There are currently approximately 20 growers in France—10 or so in the north and west, and another 9 or 10 in the south—with more becoming involved all the time. Despite the fact that the tea gardens are located far from each other, a real sense of community prevails, and there is a strong spirit of collaboration and support throughout the country. The following six growers are representative of the different regions and varying levels of experience and expertise found among the tea gardens of France.
Filleule des Fées
(Trevarez, Finistere, Brittany)
The name of Weizi and Denis Mazerolle’s tea garden by the River Blavet, Filleule des Fées, translates as “Goddaughter of the Fairies.” There is a certain magic at play here that combines just the right mix of natural elements to please the tea plants and ensure that they thrive—deep acid soil, a temperate climate, morning mists, and generous sunshine, plus a suitable amount of rain, gently sloping meadows, and surrounding forests of ancient beech and oak trees that protect the bushes from blustering winds.
It was during a visit to China in the 1980s that Denis first experienced the amazing flavor and beautiful flat leaves of Zhejiang Province’s famous Long Jing (Dragon Well) green tea. The love of this tea stayed with Denis and inspired him and Weizi to become pioneers of French-grown tea when the couple found a holiday home in Brittany and began to think about the possibility of growing plants on the surrounding land. They set about selecting suitable plants and chose a hardy, frost-resistant cultivar that was originally developed beside the Black Sea in Georgia and makes for excellent black teas. They selected other cultivars from a nearby plant conservatory in Brittany.
