Boh Tea

Boh is the largest tea plantation in Cameron Highlands, with two sister estates; its immediate neighbour Fairlie Garden and Sungai Palas in Brinchang, about 20km away. The main estate in Habu is a popular tourist attraction with a functioning factory that's open to public, shopping gallery, English cafe, viewpoints along the tea fields and even a small lodge for overnight accommodation. The Boh Tea Gardens can be accessed using an 8km narrow route that starts from Habu district, 4km after Ringlet town or 6km away from Tanah Rata. A large signboard points at the detour along the main road, so it's not easy to miss the turning.

The largest producer of tea in Malaysia, Boh was established by JA Russell, an English businessman in the very early nineties. Noting the mineral-rich soil, high rainfall and cooling climate of Cameron Highlands, Russell saw the potential for growing tea - high in demand at that time despite an economic depression. He purchased a tract of land in Habu and set out to produce a robust tea with a distinct flavour, straight from the ground up. Since then, Boh expanded into a corporate franchise sponsoring nature conservation efforts with intense media campaigns, and marketing its products across Southeast Asia, though much of the stock still goes to local supermarkets and sundry shops.

In reality, Boh tea is not at all bad-tasting, but is far from the mark of 'distinct' quality that it vaunts so highly. Still, the abundant visitors to its tea plantations ensure the Boh tea blends sell exceptionally well; either as packed products sold from its flagship stores, or taken in a hot pot with scones and other continental pastries at its cafes. While technically off-limits, the tea plantation is unfenced and visitors often park along the roadside to walk among the tea bushes, plucking random leaves to sniff. The Boh Tea Garden is open daily from 9am to 4.30pm, but closes on Mondays. Entrance is free, and guided tours are conducted hourly or less depending on crowd traffic.