Before the Hazard family
acquired LOS ANDES in 1985, the owners were Helen and Mark Oliver.
The Olivers lived in England and used to come twice a year, to
spend several months on the estate. They had a partner in Guatemala.
First it was Owen Smith and later, Johnny Armstrong. All of these
people were of English origin.
Mark Oliver brought tea seed (Camelia sisnensis) from India
and Africa during 1956 and 1957. He had become interested in
tea cultivation, and Los Andes had similar conditions to those
of other areas in the world where tea of good quality is produced.
The soil is volcanic, very fertile and well drained, between
2,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level, and with abundant rainfall.
The plants grew well, with few natural enemies. Gradually Mark
began to install machinery to process the green leaf and turn
it into black tea. He hired a young Englishmen named Raymond
Irving-Bell who had learned about tea production, first in India
and then in Argentina. Raymond increased the tea plantings and
completed the installation of a “Tea Factory” in
Los Andes.
At present (November 2007) there are 23 hectares
of “Tea
Gardens” and the annual production is 35,000 kilograms
of black tea. Since 2004 this production is certified as 100%
organic.
LOS ANDES is a Private Nature Reserve on the southern slopes
of the Atitlán volcano, in Guatemala, overlooking the
Pacific Ocean. It is located in the municipalities of Patulúl
and Santa Bárbara, Department of Suchitepequez. The total
area is 630 hectares. Primary forest is still conserved on more
than 60% of the land. The other areas are used for growing tea,
coffee, quinine and macadamia. Organic and ecological processes
are used. A colony of 50 families live on the Reserve. The company,
Los Andes, S.A. provides schooling and medical services for the
people. The shareholders of the company are the Hazard-Chocano
family. Since 2001, the whole property is registered as a Private
Nature Reserve with the government authorities (CONAP).
If
you would like buy loose black tea, or in pouches,
please contact us here.
Delivered
to your home or office (service currently offered only for
Guatemala City). |
