10-27-2022 Howard Mag - Flipbook - Page 64
A variety of teas on display at BLTeas at Heron’s Meadow Farm in Woodbine.
The data showed a surge in the demand for
tea among young people. The surveys highlighted that millennials, in particular, drank tea
during the lockdown due to its hydration benefits and the “feel good” factor.
“Tea is calming, relaxing,” said Goggi, who
previously spent three decades working with
Lipton Tea as part of the Royal Estates Tea Co.,
and was the first American-born “tea taster” in
the history of T.J. Lipton/Unilever. “And it has
healthful properties.”
A new National Institutes of Health study,
published in August 2022 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that people who consumed
more than two cups of tea per day, had as
much as a 13 % lower risk of death from any
cause compared to people who did not drink
tea.
Higher tea consumption, researchers
revealed, was associated with a lower risk of
death from cardiovascular disease, heart disease
and stroke.
Given increased consumer demand in America for tea, one might wonder if that has inspired
a boom in tea growers such as Heron’s Meadow
Farm.
While tea is grown “in about 25-30 states,”
said Goggi, it’s not necessarily an easy endeavor.
“It’s extraordinarily expensive. You need land.
And tea plants. Tea seeds are hard to transport,
and can be difficult to get ahold of domestically,”
he said.
Angela McDonald, president of the U.S.
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| Fall 2022 | howardmagazine.com
League of Tea Growers, agreed. She notes that
while the U.S. does have major commercial tea
growers, the industry is “small” compared to
India and China where production is “huge.”
While there are some tea estates, she said,
smaller, artisanal farms are more of the norm.
“You’ll find tea farms in places like California,
Hawaii, Oregon, and in the South,” said McDonald, who leads a membership organization made
up of tea growers, retailers, educators and other
stakeholders.
“The climate must be hospitable to Camellia
sinensis, because the plant prefers a tropical or
subtropical climate.”
She explained that the ‘terroir’ — generally,
the soil, climate and topography — of where tea
is grown contributes to its distinctive taste. “It’s
just like wine in that way.”
Continued growth
At Heron’s Meadow Farm, its owners are
elated that this season will mark their third
harvest.
Admittedly, “there’s been trial and error,” and
the learning curve of farming has been “frustrating at times,” but Baker and her husband are
relishing their new agricultural venture.
Their land is being farmed with care and an
eye toward sustainability.
“We’re keeping things natural,” said Baker.
Although not certified organic at this time,
“we don’t use pesticides or herbicides. All the
processing is natural.”
The couple have received support during
their journey. For instance, they “plugged in
early” with the Howard County Economic
Development Authority, which offers “innovation” grants. After submitting a proposal, they
were awarded funds for fencing that keeps the
deer population at bay. “[Deer] like to bed down
in the fields at night and eat the tea plants,” said
Baker.
Meanwhile, the farm has become a destination, complete with special events and informal
tours by appointment for small groups.
Guests can view the tea fields from a distance;
meander through herb gardens, or sit on the
patio and watch wildlife: blue herons, which
inspired the farm’s name, plus hawks, foxes and
deer.
“We also have bees,” Baker said. “They
cross-pollinate the plants. And we make honey.”
Inside the farm store, customers can sit at the
tea bar or on the covered patio to sip a cup of tea.
In keeping with the reputation of tea itself,
Baker says they want the farm to evoke a sense
of comfort and serenity.
“We love the area. We love what we’re doing,
and have a loyal customer base. This is a labor
of love.”
Heron’s Meadow Farm
1596 Daisy Road, Woodbine.
410-934-0148. facebook.com/heronsmeadowfarm/?ref=page_internal. blteas.com
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