Miangbäume are considered ancestors of the modern teas. They grow wild in the forests of Thailand and awaken the interest of tea farmers and companies. The harvest of which helps the forest and the diversity of species.
The tins and jars on the shelves of the Monsoon Tea House bear promising names. “Dhara Green”, “Jungle the Black”, or “Lanna Silver Needle.” Contrary to what one might expect, the drink, the customer here is your tea is also not steaming hot out of the mugs, but like fine wine, well-tempered, out of carafes. Also Mon Chaya comes over on a regular basis. The 31-year-old also cultivates tea. She meets with Kenneth Rimdahl, the owner of monsoon, a native of Sweden. Between the shelves you can sit and discuss your hand-picked, wild Harvest.
As Rimdahl came to Thailand, he was actually looking for teapots. Instead, he found Miang-trees, a kind of forgotten treasure that grows in the forests of Thailand. Earlier, it was common that the Locals made from the leaves of the trees medicine, or a dish called Miang Kham prepared. This is largely forgotten, only a few of the Old, do that.
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Miang-trees belong to the genus of the Camellia, are tea bushes. Rimdahl you are therefore referred to as the “grandfather” of today’s tea. The plants fascinated the Swedes, and he stayed. In 2013, he founded Monsoon Tea, and began to deal with the forest inhabitants, to gather the wild leaves. This he now sold, “forest friendly,” he emphasizes.
A local knitting group meets in the Monsoon Tea House in Chiang Mai. The teahouse esitzer has built a business around the “grandfather” of the modern tea Miang-tree tea
Those who visit his tea house in Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, can cost the Ur-tea. Rimdahl then tells them which way the leaves have taken, how they were plucked from the tree, and finally into the jars and jars of his business. He speaks of Fermentation and flavors, is also strongly reminiscent of discussions over wine. Rimdahl stresses that his Teesammler reap only a small part of the wild Miang leaves. The plants should continue to grow and not be exploited.
Tea-growing and species diversity
Economic Benefits and conservation are for the tea producers. This is a relatively new concept. Until 1989, the forest was cut down rigorously, in order to create space for agricultural land.
“You have to realize that the forest has a great value if he stands still,” says Rimdahl. “We want the forest has some of our work and the farmers can earn money.”
The wild trees in the forest stand, is a step. New Miang-tea trees grow, is a second. To Rimdahl encourages the farmers with whom he works. And he turns against the exploitation of nature. Farmers who use pesticides, he buys tea.
Locals pick the leaves of wild Miang-trees, they make for excellent tea and prevent the trees to be felled
Because in this way, the forest is getting bigger and bigger, in hopes of Rimdahl that the borders between the trees and the usual plan to merge days. Nature should take over and the species, which had previously lost their habitat.
Rimdahls concept of the process of science.
Alexey Reshchikov, for example: The academic staff of the College of Ecology and Evolution, Sun Yat-sen University in China studied the effects of large-scale tea plantations on biodiversity. It is mainly due to the impact of pesticides on the forests.
Monsoon Tea is to him through his research work in the North of Thailand. In the meantime, the company is a part of his research work. In it, he examines whether the newly planted Miang-can be used trees as a kind of buffer between the tea plantations and the primary forest.
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Reshchikov Monsoon Tea as “a way to ‘green plantations,-deserts’ in secondary forests to convert”, so forests grow or are created after the person has cleared the initial trees. “You can increase the species richness,” says the researcher.
Rimdahls concept could work. The idea is to plant Miang trees only between the conventional tea, but to leave them largely alone. So, Reshchikov, could then be implemented elsewhere.
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“I would be, to plant the trees as an invasive species anywhere in the world, but the plantations that are already here, in a secondary forest to convert, is a brilliant idea, I think. This is certainly also with other plant species in other areas.”
Many farmers have the experience with this type of cultivation is still missing. You only know the plantations and the use of pesticides. To convince you of environmentally friendly methods, is often not easy.
Tea-growing in the next Generation
To convince Mon Chaya was, however, not complicated. You had, until you know Rimdahl learned, had nothing to do with the cultivation of tea. Instead, she studied Economics in Bangkok, and Marketing. After Wawee Mountain in the Chiang Rai Province, you came originally just to learn Chinese, and to increase their chances on the labour market. Because most of the families that grow tea, are Chinese.
Wild Miang tea is not only used for the preparation of tea. Fermented tea leaves are also an ingredient in local Snacks
Meanwhile, Chaya is part of a family. While your knowledge of the language in-depth, kindled the love for a “boy from the country”, Wasan, who comes from a tea farmer family. In the meantime, the two are married.
Of Chinese children, it is expected that you follow in the footsteps of their parents, explains Chaya. Your husband should grow tea, so, like his parents before him. You wanted to different something. Also, tea can grow, Yes, but on the way, she had met through Rimdahl.
“We know that it will be for our business in the future, if we plant trees,” says Chaya of the DW. “The people from the city do not recognize the the country see it. You can burn just anything to get acreage. Our method is not only good for business, but also for the earth, nature and ourselves.”
Wasans family was persuaded, even if they initially had doubts. The judgment of a Chinese tea master has given to the rash. Found the tea that had been picked out of a hundreds of years ancient tree, of higher quality than the tea from the plantation. Meanwhile, Chaya and her husband have planted about a thousand new trees in the family farm and the forest, a piece of his green glory returned.
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