Tea plantations of Sochi

These places offer not only picturesque views, but also a unique atmosphere, making them ideal for nature and photography lovers.

Tea plantation tours are an opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of tea, as well as enjoy panoramic views of the culture that has become a symbol of southern Russia. Discover “colored” varieties of tea, learn about the process of its cultivation and production, choosing the optimal travel format with professional guides from ManteraTravel.

• History of Krasnodar tea
• Tea plantations in Sochi
• Matsesta
• Solokhaul
• Khosta
• Dagomys
• Conclusion

The history of tea cultivation in Sochi goes back more than a hundred years. At the end of the 19th century, the first attempts to cultivate tea in the lands of the South Caucasus were unsuccessful - in winter, the bushes died from frost. However, in 1901, the peasant Judas Koshman, an experienced worker on tea plantations in Georgia, Abkhazia and Turkey, decided to try his hand again. He bought a plot of land in the village of Solokh-aul and began growing tea in the conditions of Sochi. A few years later, he managed to develop a frost-resistant variety, which brought recognition not only at the regional level, but also at the national level. Since then, Krasnodar tea has become known as the northernmost tea in the world.

In the 1930s, new tea plantations began to be actively planted in the vicinity of Sochi, and the first tea factory was built. The peak of tea production in this area came in the post-war period, when state farms significantly increased production volumes, and "Krasnodar Tea" became a brand known throughout the country.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sochi's tea plantations were the only ones left in Russia, as tea production declined in former Soviet republics such as Georgia, Abkhazia, and Azerbaijan. But economic difficulties were replaced by recovery, which began in the late 90s and early 2000s thanks to the efforts of private entrepreneurs and investors.

To get to know the history of tea production better, as well as see what the working plantations look like, you can go on a tour of the Sochi tea plantations with ManteraTravel. Seeing the process of tea picking and production with your own eyes is a great opportunity not only to learn history, but also to enjoy the beautiful views of the tea fields and mountain landscapes.

Tea is a unique plant that thrives in subtropical and humid climates, preferring warmth and sunny days. Tea bush plantations are usually planted on mountain slopes so that water does not stagnate and the plants can enjoy good drainage. Tea bushes are cut to the level of a person's hip to make it easier to work with them, but if this is not done, they can grow up to three meters in height, which makes caring for them more difficult.

Tea has a powerful root system that can penetrate the ground up to six meters, which helps the bushes withstand droughts and lack of moisture. An important feature is that it is grown without the use of chemicals; all plant care is done manually.

One of the most famous tea plantations in Sochi is Matsesta tea. Its plantations are located in a picturesque area, where tea bushes delight with their lush growth and rich aroma. Matsesta tea is not only a wonderful taste and freshness, but also an opportunity to touch the history of tea production in Sochi. During the tour, you will learn about ancient methods of collecting and processing tea, as well as enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain expanses.

If you are interested in a deeper look at the tea plantations of Sochi and want to learn the secrets of growing high-quality tea, we recommend going on a tour of the Matsesta plantations with ManteraTravel. This is a great opportunity to see the process on the spot and enjoy the unique tea varieties that have become a real brand of this region.

The Matsesta Tea Factory is one of the shining examples of the revival of tea production in Sochi. Historically, the Matsesta plantations and factory have experienced many ups and downs, and after being virtually abandoned during the Soviet period, the factory was rebuilt in 2006. Since then, modern equipment for processing and packaging tea has been installed here, and the plantations have occupied 170 hectares.

Excursions to tea plantations in Matsesta from ManteraTravel provide a unique opportunity not only to get acquainted with the process of growing tea, but also to participate in a traditional tasting, where you will be offered the famous "Matsesta" black tea, as well as other varieties with the addition of herbs, green and many others. You will be told in detail how the most delicate top leaves are collected on the plantations by hand, and the rest - with the help of special equipment.

The Matsesta tea plantations are a place worth visiting to truly experience the atmosphere of tea production in Sochi, learn more about its history and enjoy the taste of local tea.

How to get there? Take bus #120 to the stop "Chaisovkhoz", then walk 10 minutes to the nearest plantations and 15 minutes to the distant ones. Entrance to the distant plantations costs 300 rubles. Address: Sochi, Izmailovka village, Izmailovskaya street, 141.

Solokhaul is the place where Russian tea growing was once born. This is where “Solokhaul tea” was born, which is rightfully considered one of the most aromatic and unique varieties in Russia. Tea plantations stretching into the distance will enchant any traveler with their green carpet.

Solokhaul is famous not only for its tea, but also for the opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of tea growing. In the house-museum of I. A. Koshman, the founder of the first tea plantation in Sochi, you can see photographs, household items from the 20th century, and even the first tea picking machine. Right behind the house, there are bushes planted by Koshman himself.

For those who are looking not only for history, but also for thrills, the Solokhaul Park has a lot of entertainment options. In the park, you can fly in a hot air balloon at an altitude of 600 meters, ride a zipline, or try an exclusive entertainment - a zipline on a snowboard!

Tours of the Solokhaul tea plantations will give you a chance not only to learn a lot about tea production, but also to enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historical place.

How to get there? You can get to Solokhaul by bus #145, and then walk another 10 minutes. Address: Sochi, Solokhaul village, Koshmana street, 30.

Tea plantations in the Khostinsky district of Sochi are some of the smallest in the region. To get here, just drive 15 kilometers along the picturesque valley of the Khosta River. The plantations produce about 8-10 tons of tea per year, which is a small volume for large retail chains, but quite enough for sale through their own online store and in small local stores.

Excursions to the Khosta tea plantations will give you a unique opportunity to observe the process of tea production on small but high-quality plantations. Tea is picked and packaged here by hand, which guarantees the highest quality of each leaf. The local factory offers four varieties of tea: green, yellow, red and black.

The Khosta plantations are located in the heart of the resort, and nearby are such natural attractions as the Vorontsov Caves, which are also worth visiting, enjoying the natural beauty of the region.

How to get there? Take bus #127 to the stop "Kalinovoye Ozero", then walk 10 minutes up the road to the tea plantations. Address: Sochi, Kalinovoye Ozero village, Centralnaya st., 10.

Dagomys is the place where one of the most famous tea-growing state farms was located in Soviet times. It was also the birthplace of the amazing ritual of "non-alcoholic hospitality" developed by the specialist W. G. Shteyman. Guests were offered not only to enjoy tea, but also to stroll through the surrounding plantations, and then go to tea houses, where they were treated to honey, pastries and, of course, aromatic tea brewed in Russian samovars. This ritual became a real tradition, which was appreciated by both ordinary citizens and high-ranking officials.

Today, Dagomys has preserved tea houses built in the 20th century, which have been converted into the Museum of Russian Folk Crafts. Here, travelers can not only enjoy traditional Russian tea drinking, but also see exhibits dedicated to folk crafts, such as Zhostovo painting, Vologda lace and Dymkovo toys. In addition, in the tea houses you can see miniature wooden copies of famous architectural monuments, for example, the Kizhi ensemble.

How to get there? You can get to the tea houses in Dagomys by bus #143, then walk 25 minutes to the plantation itself. Address: Sochi, ul. 9 Maya, 302.

Krasnodar tea is not only one of the most unique and famous types of tea in Russia, but also an environmentally friendly product. One of the features of the tea plantations in Sochi is that the fields are covered with snow in winter. This creates natural conditions for protecting tea bushes from pests, which allows tea to be grown without the use of chemicals for processing.

Several varieties of tea are produced from tea leaves, such as green, yellow, red and black. The differences between them lie in the methods of fermentation and heat treatment of the leaf, which gives each variety its own unique taste and aroma.

The lifespan of a tea bush can be more than 120 years. For example, in Solokh-Aul, you can find bushes planted back in 1901, which not only continue to grow, but also bloom and produce seeds. The roots of tea bushes can go into the soil to a depth of up to 6 meters, which allows them to grow successfully even on very steep slopes.

The tea plantations of Sochi deservedly bear the title of the Russian Sri Lanka. Here you can find endless green fields, similar to the famous tea plantations of exotic countries, and also enjoy a cup of aromatic tea against the backdrop of majestic mountains. The only thing missing is elephants, but this only adds to the uniqueness. You should definitely visit these beautiful places to arrange a bright photo shoot against the backdrop of greenery, get acquainted with the variety of tea varieties, study its interesting history and buy souvenirs. It will be especially exciting during the tea picking season, from May to September, when you can not only watch the process, but also take part in the harvest.

For those who want to get to know tea culture better, an excellent option would be excursions to the tea plantations of Sochi from ManteraTravel, where you can not only learn a lot of new things, but also take part in the tea picking process.