Portugal Cha Gorreana

The Chá Gorreana tea fields are one of the most distinctive landscapes on São Miguel. Rows of tea bushes follow the natural curves of the hills, creating these almost hypnotic patterns of green lines across the landscape.

Gorreana has been producing tea since 1883 and is often described as the oldest continuously operating tea plantation in Europe. Beyond visiting the factory itself, walking through the surrounding fields is one of the best ways to experience this very different side of the Azores.

While wider shots are great for showing the plantation in its surroundings, I particularly like using a drone to isolate the patterns of the tea fields.

Fly high enough that individual bushes become less important and concentrate instead on the curves, repetitions and intersections between the rows. A near top-down perspective can turn the landscape into an almost abstract photograph like this one.

Soft or overcast light works extremely well here because it keeps the greens saturated without creating overly harsh shadows. For more depth, lower morning or evening light can emphasize the separation between individual rows.

Chá Gorreana is located on the northern side of São Miguel and is an easy stop when driving around the island. You can visit the historic tea factory and then explore the plantation itself on foot.

Walking routes run through the surrounding fields, so don't stop at the factory. Give yourself some extra time to wander between the rows and explore the higher sections of the plantation, where you can combine views across the tea fields with the surrounding hills and Atlantic coastline.

You can visit the plantation year-round, and because São Miguel stays incredibly green across the seasons, you don't necessarily need perfect summer weather to take beautiful photographs. Chá Gorreana is on the northern side of São Miguel and is an easy stop when driving around the island. You can visit the historic tea factory and then explore the plantation itself on foot.