Tea Machine from Taiwan

More organic tea from Portugal

My name is Nina Gruntkowski, and everything began 15 years ago with a single tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in my backyard garden in Porto. In 2014, my team and I established our one-hectare tea garden in Fornelo/Vila do Conde. Since 2019, we’ve harvested and hand-processed all our organic and biodynamic tea leaves—creating a fine variety of Portuguese green teas and, brand new, our first oolong tea.

Processing fresh tea leaves into tea is a kind of magical process, as all the different styles of tea can come from the very same leaves of Camellia sinensis. During the numerous processing steps, the level of oxidation is controlled, which results in the different colours and flavours of teas. We have specialised in green and semi-oxidised Oolong teas. Every year our yields are growing, and to make processing even more efficient and gentle, we need a specialised machine for the final drying step.

Last year, I traveled to Taiwan, where tea farmer colleagues helped me find the perfect drying machine. With your help, we want to finance this new machine and lay the foundation to develop a second, more affordable everyday line, so you can enjoy our Portuguese tea daily in the future.

My project is special because ...

In 2011, tea was barely a topic in Europe. Freshly moved from Germany to Portugal and still working as a radio journalist, I sought a new professional challenge. During a radio interview, I learned that the tea plant Camellia sinensis belongs to the camellia family. Living on northern Portugal’s coast, known as the «Land of Camellias» since Asian exploration voyages, made me start dreaming of growing tea there.

Starting with one plant, then 200 in my home garden, it grew steadily: Between 2014 and 2018, my team and a Portuguese camellia grower propagated around 12,000 tea plants from existing local plants in camellia collections to establish a one-hectare tea garden. I trained in biodynamic farming and later permaculture, continually refining our comprehensive «Natural Farming» approach to this day.

Since our first 2019 harvest, yields have risen yearly – all leaves hand-picked and crafted into fine green and oolong teas. Inspired by Japanese and Taiwanese tea masters, Chá Camélia’s growing team has developed a unique style, not copying Asian teas but capturing northern Portugal’s distinct terroir in every cup.

This is what I need backing for.

The new drying machine is currently being custom-made for us in Taiwan and should be ready in about two months (19.000€). However, shipping to Portugal is very expensive (5.000€), and importing into Europe requires a TÜV certificate (5.000€)—an investment we cannot currently shoulder alone without support.

With your support, we can achieve this crucial step and continue our heartfelt project: sustainably producing and developing Portugal’s first hand-picked tea. Together with you, we want to grow the diversity of Portuguese tea—so you can enjoy it not just on special occasions, but every day.