The right tourist brew
Located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu, Sabah Tea Garden is leveraging its picture-perfect surroundings to bring in educational tours and Insta-loving visitors, writes Olivia Miwil
WHAT used to be the preferred choice for those wanting to learn about tea planting is now a hot choice for those wanting to up their social media presence. Sabah Tea Garden, the only organic tea farm in Borneo and one of the few in the world, is located about three hours from Kota Kinabalu. In recent years, it has turned into a tourist destination by adding a wide choice of lodgings, cafes, attractive attractions and activities.
Located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu at 693m above sea level, the plantation couldn’t have a better location.
The altitude gives every harvest at the plantation a spring-like quality that’s highly regarded.
Having a 130 million-year-old rainforest surrounding the plantation, its harvests are 100 per cent pesticide-free as insects are drawn more towards the rainforest. Sabah Tea products are therefore organic.
This has made the plantation a preferred choice for educational visits that give participants a sneak view on tea planting and harvesting activities.
School children especially love to learn more about tea as it is something that everyone can relate to.
Each visit will have a guide accompanying the group to the farm, explaining and demonstrating how to pluck leaves based on its colour and textures that are suitable to be processed for beverages.
During the tea-harvesting activity, the participants will have the option to wear modified traditional costumes or comfortable clothing.
The guided tour will then end at the factory for a better insight on how those tea leaves are processed and packaged into products.
ATTRACTING TOURISTS
For typical tourists, Sabah Tea Garden has all the attractions to make them stay a while longer.
Social media players will be happy with its Facebook-and-Instagram-worthy spots.
For one, the sprawling tea farm has a majestic backdrop. Imagine tea trees that stretch far out with the towering Mount Kinabalu in the horizon. All these beauties are set in the cool mountain air.
Even better, there is a huge bright yellow frame that has been strategically put up to frame the picturesque backdrop of sprawling tea-tree fields and Mount Kinabalu.
Besides creative poses and good photography angles, the right timing will result in different effects too.
By spending a night at the Sabah Tea
Garden accommodation, one can take photos during sunrise and sunset.
For lodging, the choices are a traditional long house, cosy cottages bungalow or a campsite.
The latest addition is the Tree House. But it’s for one to just visit and take photos. The small wooden house is decorated with a coffee-table, a quaint radio and an old telephone.
What is more interesting at this cute house is a tree mailbox, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, from which visitors can send postcards to their loved ones.
A special event can also be organised here with prior arrangement with the management.
Sabah Tea Garden has everything for everybody. For the romantics, there is a souvenir shop selling padlocks to be locked at a teapot-shaped structure as gestures of eternal love. Just like the famous French lock bridge in Paris, Pont des Arts and N Seoul Tower in Seoul, South Korea.
History lovers shouldn’t miss a spot named Quailey's Hill which is dedicated to an Australian prisoner of war, Private Allan Quailey. He was killed by Japanese guards at the site on Feb 16 in 1945 for not being able to continue his journey on the first Sandakan-Ranau death march. Quailey
was one of 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died in the death marches. Only six Australians survived.
For foodies, head to its Sabah Tea Resort restaurant that serves mouthwatering teabased food and drinks.
To try everything on the menu, it is best to come in a large group so that everyone can enjoy the variety without wasting the food, which includes waffles, pancakes and scones.
For those who are not used to the original bitter taste of tea leaves, these pastries should be accompanied with maple syrup, jam or honey.
There are local delicacies too. Look out for chickens cooked with Bambangan (wild mango), Tenom coffee lamb, wild ginger and local vegetables.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the matcha ice-cream and matcha latte. Prepacked tea beverages are also available at the souvenir shop. Be warned though: you will be spoilt for choice.
For those who like to work up a sweat with an outdoor activity, the list is long and comprehensive, including obstacle crossing in the Sapaon Recreational Area, trekking along the trails to the peak of Kamunsu Hill and children activities like painting on batik, stone and glass bottles.