The Seychelles tea plantation sits high on the misty mountain slopes of Mahe, where the cooler, wetter conditions suit growing tea, with rows of bushes carpeting the green hillsides. A visit takes in the setting, how the tea is grown and processed, and a chance to taste and buy the local product, often blended with island flavours like vanilla and cinnamon. Perched above the coast, it offers sweeping views to the west coast and ocean. It sits on the scenic mountain road across Mahe, making it a natural stop on a self-drive day alongside the spice garden and the southern beaches.
High on the misty slopes of Mahe, above the heat of the coast, grows something unexpected in a tropical island nation. Tea. The Seychelles tea plantation, set in the hills near the scenic mountain road that crosses the island, is a charming and easy stop that combines a taste of local industry with some of the best views on Mahe. Here is what to know about a visit.
Tea in the tropics
The cooler, wetter conditions of Mahe’s high slopes turn out to suit tea, and the plantation has grown it here for decades, with rows of tea bushes carpeting the green hillsides. It is a small but genuine piece of the island’s agricultural story, alongside its spices and its rum, and the setting, high above the coast with the sea glittering far below, is half the pleasure.
The visit and the tasting
A visit typically takes in the setting, a look at how the tea is grown and processed, and the chance to taste and buy the local product. The Seychelles teas are often blended with island flavours like vanilla, cinnamon, citrus and lemongrass, which make fragrant, distinctive cups and easy souvenirs to take home. A box of local tea is one of the nicer, more affordable gifts the islands offer.
The views
Part of what makes the plantation worth the drive is simply where it is. Perched on the mountain slopes, it offers sweeping views down over the green hills to the west coast and the ocean. On a clear day it is one of the loveliest outlooks on Mahe, and the cool mountain air is a welcome change from the beach.
Fitting it into your day
The plantation sits on the high road that crosses Mahe through the mountainous interior, which makes it a natural stop on a self-drive day. You can pair it easily with the Jardin du Roi spice garden, the wild southern beaches and the scenic mountain drive itself, weaving the tea plantation into a loop that takes in the green heart of the island as well as its coast.
Tips for visiting
- Go on a clear morning for the best views before cloud gathers on the peaks.
- Combine it with the spice garden and a mountain drive for a full hills-and-coast day.
- Buy tea to take home, a fragrant, affordable and genuinely local souvenir.
- A hire car makes the hilly drive up easy and lets you explore the interior at your own pace.
Plan your visit
The tea plantation is a gentle, scenic highlight of Mahe’s green interior, best enjoyed on a relaxed self-drive day. Book a hire car to reach the hills and drive the mountain road, see more things to do for the rest of a Mahe day, and browse our directory for a base on the island.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a tea plantation in Seychelles?
Yes. High on the misty mountain slopes of Mahe, where the cooler, wetter conditions suit tea, a plantation has grown it for decades, with rows of bushes on the green hillsides. It is a charming stop with some of the best views on the island.
What can you do at the Seychelles tea plantation?
See the setting and how the tea is grown and processed, taste and buy the local product, often blended with island flavours like vanilla, cinnamon and citrus, and enjoy sweeping views down over the hills to the west coast and ocean.
Where is the Seychelles tea plantation?
On the high mountain slopes of Mahe, near the scenic road that crosses the island through its forested interior. This makes it a natural stop on a self-drive day, easily paired with the Jardin du Roi spice garden and the southern beaches.
Is the Seychelles tea plantation worth visiting?
Yes, for the combination of a taste of local industry, fragrant teas to take home as souvenirs, and sweeping mountain views over the coast. It is an easy, scenic highlight of Mahe's green interior on a relaxed self-drive day.
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