The tea route, discovering Mauritius' art of living

Cultivated since the 18th century, the tea leaf arrived on the island on the initiative of Pierre Poivre, a colonial administrator. Since then, this crop has taken root in Mauritian soil. To discover this fascinating heritage, an itinerary called the "Tea Route" takes in three key locations from Curepipe: the lush green landscapes of Bois Chéri and the old plantation mansions such as Domaine des Aubineaux and Saint Aubin.

The first stopover is near Curepipe in a colonial house, the Domaine des Aubineaux, built in 1872. Located in Forest Side, the house is typically built like the old houses where winter gardens were in vogue in Europe.

Covering an area of 746 m², the house illustrates all the charm of English colonial architecture with a French touch. Preserved and restored, it has a glazed veranda to protect against damp. The building, made of wood recycled from abandoned ships, is flanked by beautiful turrets and has retained all its period furniture and paintings. There are two large bronze statues of hunting dogs, old photographs of the former owners, and objects and furniture dating from the Compagnie des Indes.

The terrace is home to a restaurant and tea room, and the stone stable is used as a distillery for essential oils. The restaurant serves hearty dishes such as coconut chicken curry, salads and pizzas. A little anecdote: this house was the first Mauritian house to be connected to the electricity network on the island in 1889.

With its gentle, poetic name, Bois Chéri is a factory where tea is made. Accompanied by a guide, we take a tour of the various stages of the harvest, from fermentation through drying and sieving to packaging. You can see the steam engine of an old locomotive used to dry the tea leaves.

As well as exploring the plantation, a museum tells the history and origins of tea, which comes from as far north as Mongolia and as far as China. After visiting the factory, don't forget to stop off at the chalet, which sits on a plain and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. You can enjoy a cup of tea on its beautiful wooden terrace. The chalet also houses a restaurant serving modern Mauritian fusion cuisine such as bisque prepared with tea or tiger prawns with black tea.

The last stop on the Tea Route is the Domaine de Saint Aubin, where you can enjoy a privileged experience of life in days gone by. A one-hour tour of this former residence is a testament to 19th-century colonial architecture. Situated just a few kilometres north of Souillac, it is a popular destination for lovers of rum and local cuisine.

A former sugar plantation property, it was built in 1819. Inside, the staircase is built around a ship's mast, and the attic frame comes from an old hull. In the 1990s, the house became a national heritage estate and underwent several major renovations before being transformed into a table d'hôtes.

Domaine de Saint Aubin offers a complete experience in the production of traditional agricultural rum, special sugars and vanilla beans. It combines tradition, environmental production and know-how. Visitors can taste a range of rums and even watch the cane being crushed. For a more intimate experience, couples or small groups can take part in a rum workshop, where experts will guide them through the various stages of production.

Visitors can stroll through the garden, which features the Domaine de Saint Aubin Anthurium Greenhouse and a botanical trail. The Maison de la Vanille reveals the production process of the famous aromatic pod, and the Maison du Rhum reveals the subtleties of distilling the estate's rum.