Tea 101 Factory and Plantation

Surprisingly, Thai people did not have a tea culture until some 200 years ago, when hill tribes migrating from China to Northern Thailand, first collected and brewed leaves from century-old wild-growing tea trees for their own consumption. Large-scale cultivation of tea in Northern Thailand only really began in the late 1980s, when the plant was popularised by the Thai royal family as a sustainable alternative to the then flourishing opium trade. Ever since, the infamous area once known as the ‘Golden Triangle’, has transformed into a vibrant culinary tourism zone, boasting award-winning tea producers and cosy tea and coffee houses. One of these is 101 Tea Plantation in Mae Salong. During your visit you can walk around the beautiful plantation, enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and taste the different tea varieties as well as amazing homemade tea ice cream. For 20 Baht you can even borrow one of the tea-picking baskets and pretend that you work at the plantation. Please note no actual tea picking is allowed.
Website: http://www.101teathailand.com/index.html