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Tea
Story by Coffee t&i Thailand
Photos by Singha park
Singha Park
The Kingdom of Healthy Tea
“Singha Park” may not be a familiar name to some, but
if you say it used to be called Boonrawd Farm, you would mostly
get a big nod from most people. It’s easy to spot Singha Park and
you will know you have come to the right place when you see a
big golden Singha statue welcoming you into the farm. We are
here to find out the story behind this famous landmark farm
and learn about their renowned tea from Mr. Pobthong Swatdee,
Marketing Manager of Boonrawd Farm Co., Ltd., and Mr, Tawan
Bureekaew, Plant Manager and Tea Specialist of Maruzen Foods
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.
The Beginning
Before it evolved to Singha Park, Mr. Santi Bhiromb-
hakdi, President of Singha Corporation Co., Ltd., had a vision to
create long-term jobs for the locals. “Chiangrai has a lot of cash
crop, and tea stands out from most as Singha Park is 450 meter
above sea level and the average temperature is suitable for tea.
Besides, the decision to grow tea was made because it can create
income and quite a lot of jobs,” Tawan took us through the initial Growing Tea
aim of Singha Park. “The cultivation processes start at the preparation of
Separated into 3 projects, the cultivation area covers as tea saplings and the ground. Tea trees are grown for 3 years
much as 600 rai. Each project covers 200 rai of land, and while before they are ready to be harvested. Top young leaves that
all of them are tea projects, each project started in different year consist of 2 young leaves and a tender bud are hand-plucked.
and supply to different segment of product. The first project This part of tea has plenty of beneficial compounds such as
produces green tea and Oolong tea while the second project polyphenols and anti-oxidants, giving it the quality taste and
supplies tea for Maruzen factories for their Japanese green teas, aroma. Once they are harvested, they are transported to the
and the third project produces 100% organic tea. factory for processing. If it’s Oolong tea, the leaves are withered
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