The exhibition titled "Tea on São Miguel. Culture and Experiences" will be open at the Santa Bárbara Sacred Art Centre of the Carlos Machado Museum next Saturday, April 21, at 9 PM.

This event is the result of a partnership between the Museum and the Porto Formoso Tea Brotherhood; it aims to present the history and experiences related to the culture of Camellia sinensis, which gives unique features to the landscape of São Miguel, being part of the island's identity heritage.

This display comprises two separate times: one dedicated to the cultivation and production of tea and the second to the experiences and rituals associated with its use.

The History of Tea Culture on São Miguel registered a remarkable moment in March 1878 when two Chinese workers arrived in Ponta Delgada with the purpose of passing their knowledge on the growth and manufacture of tea. Hired by the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture of São Miguel, they brought with them the necessary utensils as well as a large quantity of seeds.

This moment marked the beginning of the industrial production of tea on the island, an activity that captivated the attention of some of the most prominent figures in the local society of the second half of the 19th century.

Before its introduction on São Miguel, tea was already a beverage enjoyed among the more privileged classes, a habit that was possibly acquired through the Portuguese connections to the Far East or the British influence born from the orange trade.

In rural areas, its use became popular after the arrival of the first Chinese workers. It is believed that the local people hired to help with the harvest and production of tea might have taken some plants to their homes and prepared the beverage according with the knowledge acquired.

The exhibition may be visited at the Carlos Machado Museum until July 22.