Arakai Estate Artisan Tea Makers
Arakai Estate, 127B Keir Road, Bellthorpe QLD 4514
What began as a timber farm is now also home to a flourishing garden of tea leaves, with Arakai Estate specialising in four different tea products. With flavours compared to renowned areas from Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, Arakai Tea is a mix of floral, aromatic and sweet notes. This beautiful, 157-hectare property has been honoured with awards for their achievements in hand-crafted teas which you can purchase online.
Beginning as a venture into farm forestry, the 56-hectare property has transformed into a larger estate to make room for tea. After a bit of research, it was discovered that Bellthorpe was ideally suited to growing Camellia thanks to the good elevation, rainfall and fertile soils. Over the next 3 years, 12,500 tea plants that included 6 different Japanese green tea varieties were planted across the estate grounds.
A mix of curiosity, necessity and inventiveness have brought about flavours likened those renowned areas of Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan. When brewed correctly, Arakai Estate artisan teas will leave you with a complex mix of floral, aromatic and sweet notes in their four different tea products: Spring Flush Green, Spring Flush Black, Premium Green and Premium Black.
The Spring Flush Green & Spring Flush Black teas come from the first harvest in Spring after a Winter dormancy. This first Spring harvest is the prime cut of tea, prized around the world for the unique qualities of flavour, aroma and cup smell. With only a short time to harvest this crop, the Arakai Estate team spend many late nights in the processing factory gently coaxing the finest qualities from the leaf. It can take up to three days from harvest to the final dry - always tasting, smelling and sorting to ensure only the best leaves make it through the process.
In September 2015, Arakai Estate ran their first commercial harvest and run of the processing factory. With this streamlined process and great result, they entered samples into the Australian Tea Masters' 'Golden Leaf Awards' for the first Australian International Tea Expo in Geelong, Melbourne. Judged by a panel of certified Tea Masters, their first ever harvest was put to the test against Australian and International entrants – and they walked away with 'Best Australian Green Tea', 'Best Australian Black Tea', as well as the major prize of 'Best Green Tea' from the International field.
Bellthorpe Stays is a great place for you, your family or your friends to stay and enjoy the big outdoors.
Brockhurst Farm is set on 22 acres of rolling hills, perched high on a mountain with spectacular mountain and rural views with Brisbane city pictured in the distance.
Nestled atop Mt Mee is Birches Restaurant, a premier venue offering magnificent modern Australian meals and stunning views across the rolling hills of the rural countryside to the Redcliffe peninsula, Moreton Island and beyond.
If you’re looking for things to do in Woodford QLD, then pop into the Woodford Visitor Information Centre located beside the water tower on the D’Aguilar Highway. Staffed by 20 volunteers, this Centre sees around 15,000 visitors drop in on annually to collect information detailing the town and surrounding areas.
Looking for peaceful Mt Mee café dining amidst nature which offers both indoor and alfresco seating options? The Place2b Café is an excellent, family-friendly spot ideal for relaxed, high-quality breakfast, lunch or dinner homemade dining away from all the city crowds and noise.