Excursion History of mauritian tea tour at Port Louis

On this half-day tour enjoy a beautiful visit of the long established Bois Chéri Tea Estate and learn about  the history and the importance of tea productions in Mauritius.

Bois Cheri Tea Estate

Depart the pier for an approximately 1-hour transfer to Bois Cheri Tea Estate. It was the French who first introduced tea to Mauritius but the cultivation of the fragrant shrub only started in earnest with the arrival of the British. Bois Chéri Tea Estate is the first tea plantation in the island and dates back to 1892. Enjoy a beautiful visit of a tea estate through the factory and the tea plantation, offering you to discover the history, stories and tales of the Bois Chéri and the importance of tea productions in Mauritius. You may taste a range of flavored teas, green teas and herbal teas at the Chalet offering a great panoramic view over the tea plantations and of the south of the island.

Domaine Les Aubineaux

Next, proceed to visit the “Domaine Les Aubineaux”, a colonial house built in 1872 and decorated with pretty turrets. The mansion passed down through several generations of the Franco-Mauritian Guimbeau family who made their fortune in the tea trade. It remained their home until the final resident, Myriam Guimbeau, passed away in 1999 aged 93, and was meticulously renovated two years later before opening as a museum. Constructed entirely of wood (mostly ebony sourced from broken ships left languishing at the port) it became the first property on the island to have electricity installed, and is one of the last remaining plantation houses in Mauritius to have kept all its period furniture, antiques and decorative objects in situ.

Sainte Therese Church

Your tour concludes with a photo stop at the Sainte Therese Church in the town of Curepipe. The church was built around 1868 and received the visit of Pope John Paul II, during his apostolic visit to Mauritius in October 1989. With its towering spire and stunning architecture, the church continues to inspire devotion amongst today’s generation.

Return to the pier thereafter.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Bois Chéri Tea Estate, Domaine Les Aubineaux, Tea Factory, Tea Tasiting, Sainte Therese Church (photo stop)

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking of approximately 0.8 km or 0.5 miles with about 20 steps to negotiate at the sites and a few to get on/off the coach. This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility but not for those who utilise a wheelchair. Flat, closed-toe walking shoes are recommended for this tour. Please bring sun protection (high-SPF sunscreen, hat, sunglasses), bottled water to stay hydrated, and local currency or credit cards for any purchases. A light rain jacket or compact umbrella may be useful for occasional tropical showers.