Breton tea: a new culture taking root in Rostrenen

It was in 2020 that this native of Charentais settled in the capital of the country Fisel. Previously, he worked in the Paris region as manager of the nursery department of a garden center. “I have always been in this field, I studied crop production,” he says.

The choice of diversification

It was the desire to chart his own path that led him to Central Brittany. In Rostrenen, Yannick Fougeron has created a unique aquatic nursery in the sector. “It’s a passion job. We are in a niche market that operates mainly six months of the year.” Its collection includes 130 varieties of water lilies and as many lotuses.

Certain particularly rare pieces are shipped throughout France and, more occasionally, to other European countries. “It’s my main activity, but it’s not the only one,” continues the man who also works as a wellness masseur, rental of lodges and, more recently, a tea producer.

A culture which is reminiscent of that of the vine. As with wine, you have to wait between three and five years between planting and the first harvests. And the investment is substantial: around 60,000 euros per hectare.

A goal of 10,000 stores

Yannick Fougeron planted his first 1,100 tea plants in 2024. The following year, 1,800 new plants were planted, followed by 1,500 more last spring. Ultimately, he plans to cultivate nearly 10,000 on one hectare. The next step is already mapped out: the creation of a processing workshop. An essential tool for promoting its production and marketing its first teas in spring 2027. “I plan to sell different types of tea: white tea, green tea, black tea and I am going to study recipes for flavored tea,” he explains. A tea that will be top of the range. “The leaves are rolled and not reduced to crumbs. This allows the aromas to be better released during infusion. It is a tea that can be infused several times, it retains its taste qualities,” he concludes. Enough to pique the curiosity of connoisseurs.

Practical