Visit from a Chinese partner

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Wang Geda, one of our longest-serving Chinese partners and who is committed to organic farming. Over tastings of green tea and oolong with our employees, he recalled that during his first visit, fifteen years ago, Jardins de Gaïa was still based in Arlette’s kitchen… Here is how he answered a few questions about our 18-year partnership.

JDG: How did you begin working in the tea business?

Wang Geda: I have a degree in physics and I am fascinated by tea and organic production. In China, unlike other tea-producing regions such as India for example, land ownership does not exist, and each small farmer cultivates tea on his own plot. Before we set up, we met the farmers in the region, we talked to village leaders and established the fact that producers could choose whether or not to become part of the cooperative of small producers. Chinese tea goes through two stages of production – first it is withered or dried directly in the villages, then it is brought to a larger treatment plant, where it is processed to acquire the required characteristics. Such a facility did not exist, so we created one.

JDG: How long have you known Jardins de Gaïa and how do you work together?

Wang Geda: I met Arlette 18 years ago, then she came to visit the cooperatives several times. She is a woman who takes the lead, who makes decisions and we work together by constantly communicating. We have many joint projects and working with Jardins de Gaïa allows us to better understand the expectations of the French.

JDG: What do you treasure the most from your partnership with Jardins de Gaïa?

Wang Geda: Arlette is a visionary woman, passionate, idealistic and open to other cultures, who supports small producers and projects. I am touched by her persistence over the years. Jardins de Gaïa is a good company, not only because of the quality of its tea, but also because of its social commitment. I have tasted teas in other tea companies that are only commercial concerns. Here you are trading, but there is something more – and that something more is essential for tea. You see, in written Chinese, man is at the centre of the ideogram for tea, and that’s what it stands for…