Bustani Mbili za Mwisho Ulaya

Kwenye kilima cha kijani karibu na bahari, mimea ya chai ilikua kwa safu nadhifu. Polly alitua juu ya ukuta na akaitazama mimea. Hili ni mojawapo ya mashamba mawili tu ya chai yaliyobaki Ulaya nzima.

On a green hill by the sea, rows of tea plants grew in neat lines. Polly landed on a wall and looked at the plants. This is one of only two tea farms left in all of Europe.

Shamba lilianza mwaka wa elfu moja mia nane themanini na tatu. Kabla ya hapo, kisiwa kililima machungwa. Ugonjwa uliua miti ya machungwa. Kwa hiyo wakulima walipanda chai badala yake. Bado wanatumia mitambo ile ile ya zamani leo.

The farm started in eighteen eighty-three. Before that, the island grew oranges. A disease killed the orange trees. So the growers planted tea instead. They still use the same old machines today.

Ndani ya kiwanda, mitambo ya zamani inasokota na kukausha majani. Wafanyakazi wanachuma majani machanga kwa mikono. Majani machanga hutoa chai bora. Hakuna dawa mbaya zinazotumika hapa.

Inside the factory, old machines roll and dry the leaves. Workers pick the young leaves by hand. Young leaves make the best tea. No bad chemicals are used here.

Polly alitembea karibu na mimea ya chai. Ilinukia kama nyasi mbichi. Familia moja ya wakulima imekitunza kilima hiki kwa muda mrefu sana.

Polly walked by the tea plants. They smelled like fresh grass. One line of growers has cared for this hill for a very long time.