15/08/2026
Seeing tea production in action from leaf to cup at Bwindi Lodge 🍃
At Volcanoes Safaris, Bwindi Lodge is the home of tea, a plant that miraculously regenerates every 2-3 weeks, making it an incredibly sustainable source of income. The art of picking is far more complex than it seems, and will give anyone a whole new appreciation for the process (I don’t think I made the cut during my apprenticeship).
Black tea and green tea are made from the same plant: one’s steamed (green tea, less caffeine) and one’s laid out to dry (black tea, more caffeine). We got a glimpse into the lifecycle and ended with a tea tasting to see which we preferred.
The best part was meeting a few of the people employed in the picking and processing. Tea production creates an opportunity for employment for the community adjacent to the national park, and all employees here are widows and widowers, often the only contributors for their families. They earn about $0.50 per basket (at about 5 baskets per day on average) and also earn from contributions from visitors.
Bravo to Bwindi Lodge and the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust for such a lovely experience and allowing us a glimpse into the work behind the cup! A whole new appreciation for the people + process behind it. Forever and always my favorite of the Volcanoes lodges. ✨
