If you haven’t already heard, the founder of world-renowned single-origin tea brand Dilmah Tea, Merrill J. Fernando, passed on last month. The man was credited for introducing single-origin tea to the international market at a time when blended was deceptively marketed as pure Ceylon tea. Anyhoo, you probably cannot replicate the man’s imense success but you can however have a go in the business of tea-growing and processing with Tea Garden Simulator.
That’s right, my friends. There are all kinds of simulation games, now even one that lets you virtually manage a tea plantation. Before we continue, you have to know this simulation game is not your regular old simulation game; it is a management game in which you are responsible for the success of the virtual tea plantation. Here is the official description:
“Tea Garden Simulator offers you the chance to unveil the secrets of centuries-old, exquisite teas as you cultivate and manage your very own tea plantation. Design and implement your unique tea processing methods to create specialty tea brands with distinctive process chains. Sell your handcrafted teas in your own Tea Store and watch your empire grow. But beware of challenges such as pests, weather variations, and irrigation conundrums that can either make or break your venture.”
In the game, you can produce a variety of tea but prior to that, there is a bunch of work to be done, like analyzing the soil properties and choosing the ideal terroir for your tea farm, preparing the land with different fertilizers for optimal tea cultivation, and more.
Basically, it’d be like running an actual tea plantation, except that you don’t have to invest millions of dollars into it; all you need is US$19.99 and a PC.
The Tea Garden Simulator, which was developed by Flying Robot Studios and published by SYB Games LLP, launched its Early Access in 2021, and it will finally leave Early Access on August 15, 2023.
Images: Flying Robot Studios.