Experiences and Tips
Our experiences and tips on how to successfully manage a small organic farm. The ins & outs of small-scale organic farming. Lessons learned by trial and error with a healthy dose of sweat and dirt!
About Maui Tea Farm
Our farm is truly a garden of Eden! In addition to growing tea and tisane herbs, we have also planted many fruit trees and vegetables throughout our property, including oranges, tangerines, lemons, apples, pears, lychees, avocado, olives, blueberries, squash, kale, potatoes, radishes, and arugula. Our goal is to create a self-sustaining paradise and homestead on our bountiful property!
We Want To Share
We love to share our knowledge of tea and farming with tea enthusiasts both on our farm and beyond through private events, tea tastings, and farm tours.
Tea Culture
All of the delicious, gorgeous, and fulfilling aspects of tea and tea culture that we love. Also highlighting what it’s like to live in a rural setting on a small country farm. Homesteading in style!
Stories and Journey
We share our stories and journey about how to grow, process, brew, and enjoy tea (Camellia sinensis) and herbal tisanes. We also grow caffeine-free tisane herbs like chamomile, lemongrass, and native Hawaiian medicinal herbs such as māmaki and kookoolau.
Who We Are
Andrea
Andrea de Roode, MS, RD, LD
Bio
Andrea has over a decade’s worth of experience working as a registered dietitian nutritionist within the Maui Community. Andrea became interested in organic and sustainable agriculture and tea culture from a young age, which led to her career in healthcare, as well as to her path into the tea world and advocacy for plant-based diets. Andrea continues to work with Maui patients diagnosed with various types of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and end-stage kidney disease. Andrea uses her significant expertise as a dietitian and her knowledge of food systems, food safety, and food and nutrition marketing here at our Maui Tea Farm. She is a dedicated, hard worker, and since the inception of the Maui Tea Farm, she has dug hundreds of tea holes with her pickaxe and shovel. Andrea loves sharing the creative vision for the Maui Tea Farm with tea lovers both virtually and in-person.
Alex
Alex de Roode, Ph.D. Candidate, M.S.
Bio
Alex has over 20 years of professional experience working in renewable energy and energy systems, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, public-private sector partnerships, and higher education on Maui and beyond. Alex and his family have called Maui home since the 1980s. He is a graduate of Seabury Hall. After extensive international travels and training, he knew that his calling was to help make positive contributions to Maui’s people, ecosystems, and economy. He applies his expertise in sustainability, agriculture, business, and community development initiatives, and teaching in the leadership and operations of our organic tea and agroforestry operation, and our expansion of offerings here at the Maui Tea Farm.
We also own PONOinfusions, our company through which we source wholesale teas and tisanes in loose and bagged forms in addition to iced teas and custom-blended infusions using 100% certified organic teas, herbs, flowers, and spices. We primarily offer these wholesale teas and tisanes to customers in the hospitality and foodservice industries, such as restaurants, cafes and tea houses, spas, hotels, and bed & breakfast establishments. Please contact us if you are interested in carrying our tea and tisane offerings in your establishment.
