The Colorful World of Local Elections on São Miguel
Stepping Back in Time: The Traditional Tea Harvest at Porto Formoso
Anthony "Tiger" Liu May 1, 2026
If you are staying with us at Golden Mermaid Villa during the first week of May, you are perfectly positioned to witness one of the Azores' most enchanting cultural traditions. While the majority of tour buses head straight to the larger Gorreana plantation, the locals know that the true soul of Azorean tea culture comes alive on the first Saturday of May at the Porto Formoso Tea Factory.
A Living History Under the Sun
Every year, this boutique estate celebrates the start of the season by transporting itself back to the 1920s. Over 100 locals gather in the emerald-green fields, dressed in traditional period garb to recreate the hand-picking methods used a century ago.
Every year, this boutique estate celebrates the start of the season by transporting itself back to the 1920s. Over 100 locals gather in the emerald-green fields, dressed in traditional period garb to recreate the hand-picking methods used a century ago.
As an expat living on this stunning island, there is something truly moving about watching the community honor their roots. The fields become a "living museum" where the division of labor follows a rhythmic, ancestral pattern:
* The Pickers: Women dressed in long skirts, white linen blouses with intricate broderie anglaise lace, and floral scarves move through the rows to hand-pluck the terminal buds and youngest leaves.
* The Keepers: Men, wearing regional rural clothing and wide straw hats, follow closely behind. They perform the heavy lifting, collecting the tea from the women’s baskets and using hoes to clear the paths, ensuring the harvest flows smoothly.
* The Pickers: Women dressed in long skirts, white linen blouses with intricate broderie anglaise lace, and floral scarves move through the rows to hand-pluck the terminal buds and youngest leaves.
* The Keepers: Men, wearing regional rural clothing and wide straw hats, follow closely behind. They perform the heavy lifting, collecting the tea from the women’s baskets and using hoes to clear the paths, ensuring the harvest flows smoothly.
The Porto Formoso Legacy
Founded in the 1920s by Amâncio Machado Faria e Maia, the factory is a testament to Azorean resilience. After a period of closure in the 1980s, the current owners began a meticulous renovation in 1998, reopening to the public in 2001.
Today, Porto Formoso holds a prestigious title: in 2018, it became the first tea factory on São Miguel to receive a guaranteed organic seal. They produce exclusively high-quality black tea without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it a favorite for the eco-conscious traveler.
Founded in the 1920s by Amâncio Machado Faria e Maia, the factory is a testament to Azorean resilience. After a period of closure in the 1980s, the current owners began a meticulous renovation in 1998, reopening to the public in 2001.
Today, Porto Formoso holds a prestigious title: in 2018, it became the first tea factory on São Miguel to receive a guaranteed organic seal. They produce exclusively high-quality black tea without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it a favorite for the eco-conscious traveler.
Insider Tip for Our Guests
Because Porto Formoso is often overlooked by the massive bus tours, this harvest festival remains an authentic, community-driven event. After watching the "dance" of the pickers in the fields, we highly recommend heading to the factory’s tasting room. Designed like a traditional Azorean kitchen, it is the perfect spot to sip a cup of organic Orange Pekoe while taking in the sea breeze.
It is the pinnacle of the factory's mission: to preserve the heritage of the Azores, one leaf at a time.
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Anthony “Tiger” Liu is an American expat and the operator of Golden Mermaid Villa and Longevity Habit retreat, where he shares a passion for the vibrant culture and nourishing lifestyle of São Miguel.
Anthony “Tiger” Liu is an American expat and the operator of Golden Mermaid Villa and Longevity Habit retreat, where he shares a passion for the vibrant culture and nourishing lifestyle of São Miguel.