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Tea, pottery and sweets at Westholme Tea Company on Vancouver Island
Did you know that Canada has a tea farm? When I first read about Westholme Tea Company, I put it on the list of places to visit on my next trip to Vancouver Island. I made it to the farm this spring. It turned out to be a delightful place I’d happily visit again.
Westholme is located in the Cowichan Valley, a scenic area of rolling hills, forests, beaches, and bays, midway between Victoria and Nanaimo. The Valley is home to picturesque villages, lovely country drives, organic farms, artisanal food, and award-winning wineries. And now, also a tea farm.
Tea growing on terraced land
Westholme did not start out as a tea farm. When Victory Vesely and Margit Nellemann bought the land in 2003, they converted the barn into a studio for Margit’s pottery and planted lavender and garlic. Because Margit creates funky teapots and cups, they began holding tea-related events. Eventually tea became their sole focus. They created their own blends of tea sourced from around the world, available for sale to brew at home, or to sip on-site accompanied by tea-inspired sweets. Then they decided to try growing their own tea to add to the selection.
You can read about my visit to Westholme Tea Farm and my conversation with Victor in an article I wrote for TravelWorld International: Tea and Clay on Canada’s First Tea Farm.
The converted barn
Pottery figures adorn the outside of the barn
Inside is bright and welcoming
Victor in front of the their home-grown tea
Tea being prepared for me
Sweets to go with the tea: cranberry turtle bars and raw chocolate brownies
More sweets – orange torte
A tea leaf accompanied one of the sweets
Pottery gallery
A sampling of Margit’s pottery
You don’t want to leave without signing the guest book or looking through the beautiful artwork others have done.
Guestbook artwork
Westholme farm, teashop and gallery are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. They are located just outside Westholme, between Duncan and Chemainus. They offer Tea and Garden Experience tours on select days and occasionally have entertainment. Check their website. Read my article about my visit here.
Thanks to Westholme for treating me to tea and sweets and thanks to Victor for taking time to talk with me.
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20 Comments
Ken Dowell
October 4, 2017 at 1:35 pmI recently visited the Celestial Seasons tea factory in Colorado. That’s a big industrial operation thus lacking the charm of Westholme Tea. What I remember most about it is the smells from walk8ng through the warehouse where all the teas were stored.
Donna Janke
October 5, 2017 at 1:55 pmKen,
I can imagine the smells in the warehouse would be quite something!
Richard Melia
October 5, 2017 at 1:52 pmNot a big tea drinker but I loved the pottery!
Donna Janke
October 9, 2017 at 6:45 amRichard, and the atmosphere?
RM Griffith
October 6, 2017 at 11:29 amWonderful to learn about the diverse things in Canada. I didn’t know tea would grow there, but would love to sample some of it!
Donna Janke
October 9, 2017 at 6:46 amRose Mary, I wouldn’t have tea would grow there either.
Doreen Pendgracs
October 12, 2017 at 8:04 pmI would love a visit to this tea farm, Donna. It is truly amazing how climate change is making it possible for crops to grow that never previously would have grown in that region. Tge world is changing before our eyes!
Donna Janke
October 15, 2017 at 8:31 amDoreen, it was cool to see a tea farm in Canada!
Carolina Colborn
October 13, 2017 at 12:38 pmWe will be going on a drive in British Columbia next summer, for our 10th wedding anniversary, starting in Victoria. Hope to visit this. Reminds us of the tea farm we visited in Taiwan.
Donna Janke
October 15, 2017 at 8:32 amCarol, I’ve not visited any other tea farms. If you do manage to fit a visit to Westholme into your trip, I’d be interested to hear how you find it compares to the one you visited in Taiwan.
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
October 14, 2017 at 6:04 pmNo, I didn’t know that Canada has a tea farm. I’ve added Westholme Tea Company to my list of places to visit on my next trip to Vancouver Island.
Donna Janke
October 15, 2017 at 8:33 amCarole, I’m sure you’d enjoy a visit to Westholme.
Marilyn Jones
October 15, 2017 at 5:22 pmI would have never dreamed of a tea farm in Canada! What entrepreneurs to come up with the idea and create this great destination along with their shop. Thank you for sharing!
Donna Janke
October 18, 2017 at 10:00 amMarilyn, I too was surprised to hear about a tea farm in Canada. I had to check it out!
alison abbott
October 17, 2017 at 8:24 amI had no idea there was a tea farm on Vancouver Island. Everyone is so creative there it doesn’t surprise me at all!
Donna Janke
October 18, 2017 at 10:01 amAlison, Vancouver Island is a great location for the tea farm (a great place in general).
Anita and Richard @ No Particular Place To Go
October 17, 2017 at 8:33 amI love how you find some out-of-the-way places that are just begging to be discovered, Donna. As a dedicated tea drinker, I can imagine having a lovely hot cup of tea and one of the cranberry turtle bars. Mmmm! Anita
Donna Janke
October 18, 2017 at 10:02 amAnita, it is always fun to discover out-of-the-way treasures. Westholme is a lovely place to linger over a cup of tea and some sweets.
Agness of e Tramping
October 31, 2017 at 6:15 pmAs a passionate lover of tea, this would be an ultimate experience for me! Thanks for bringing this place closer, Donna!
Donna Janke
November 2, 2017 at 2:37 pmAgness, this place is a delight for tea lovers. My husband who isn’t a tea drinker liked it too.