A Story about Passion & Patience

It was my first trip after arriving at my new home in Portugal, in September 2019. The trip led me to Fornelo, a small village between Braga and Porto, near the ocean. An event called ‘Festa do Chá’ had triggered my attention. It was a celebration of the first harvest of the flowers of the Camellia Sinensis at a place called Chá Camélia. For me it was the first time ever I saw tea plants and a tea plantation in real life, so my curiosity was pretty intense.

Being an entrepreneur myself for two decades already, I was caught by the story of Nina Gruntkowski, the owner of the plantation. Seeing and hearing her tell that story, standing in the midst of the plants, like they were her children, struck me. Both her passion for what she is doing, and the patience to see the first results of her immense work, were really inspiring. I learnt that it takes at least 5 years before a tea plant is ready for the first harvest of leaves. Not to mention all the criteria like soil and weather that have to be perfect to obtain top quality tea products.
I told her how impressed I was by her business story. We kept in touch and we met a couple of times afterwards. I had the pleasure to taste the fresh tea of the first harvest of the tea leaves this spring, just after the corona lockdown. Again I was struck by the story behind that harvest, since it all happened during the lockdown. Nina told me how stressed she had been. It was the first harvest ever, which was quite an overwhelming experience. And then there was the lockdown due to COVID-19, with the risk of getting sick herself or her collaborators. The risk of not being able to continue the precious work. But she managed by living it day by day, in a mindful way. It reminded me of the quote from my favourite book The Alchemist: ‘When you really want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.’

Little by little I got to know more about this wonderful process of nature, delivering both tea leaves and tea flowers, at alternating moments. Nature takes care of everything: it all happens at the right moment. The right moment is always now, in the present.

This fall, exactly one year after my first visit, I had the opportunity to participate in the flower picking at Chá Camélia. A mindful experience in every way. Every morning flowers are ready to be picked. Every morning at dawn they present themselves by opening their leaves and showing their bright yellow stamens. After a dehydratation process, they are poured into a cup of tea that is a beauty for the eye. You can taste the love and care they were handpicked with.

The ritual is repeated day after day for several weeks. Every day. Because that is how nature works. In cycles. And at its own pace. No need for human control, since nature determins when the time is right. Nature is always right. Nature is always ready. And always touching all your senses.

Hear the plants awaken in silence.
Feel the soft skin of the flowers.
See the beauty of nature unfold.
Smell the scent of freshly poured joy.
Taste the result of this story of passion and patience.

www.chacamelia.com