Liz Smailes discovers the green and ruby red combination of tea-leaves and strawberries is truly divine and efective both in and on the body when visiting the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

A three-hour drive north from Kuala Lumpur and high in the Cameron High­
lands awaits a haven of tranquility and a magnificent landscape. Once a retreat for the Europeans to escape the oppressive heat of the lowlands and now attracting nationalities from across the globe, it still has all the charm and setting reminiscent of an English village.

Cameron Highlands was named after William Cameron, a British surveyor who stumbled across the plateau in 1885 during a mapping expedition. Failing to mark his discovery on the map, the location of the plateau was fi­
nally confirmed by subsequent expeditions. Having been there myself, I can understand why William wanted to keep this wonderful place a secret!
Due to the acidic and rich mineral content of the soil, the region is abundant with tea plantations and strawberry fields. Cameron Highlands is also a leading producer of flowers in Malaysia; be prepared for a brilliant explosion of flowers you won’t see flourishing elsewhere else in Malay­sia! Drive up as high as 1,500 meters above sea level to the peaks of the main range of Peninsular Malaysia and enjoy temperatures as low as 18°C.

Flushed and ready to brew
Nicknamed ‘Malaysia’s Green Bowl’, the Highlands possess all the right attributes of prime cropland – moderate tem­peratures, high altitude, abundant rainfall, long hours of sunshine and well-drained soil.

BOH Tea Plantation is a must-visit place when you are in Cameron Highlands; Scenic, tranquil, cool fresh air, edu­cating and a refreshing brew to quench the thirst. The road journey to the BOH Tea Plantation is an adventure in itself with its narrow and winding road.

Narrow roads aside, the view of green rolling hills with neat rows of tea plantations is simply breathtaking. The Sg Palas ‘ummph!’ BOH TEA Plantation offers free, guided factory tours of how the tea leaf is processed, topped off with a tipple of your favorite brew in the recently ex­panded Tea Rooms. The actual tea factory is still left intact in its old condition – white painted brick walls with red window panes. Inside, while most of the machines have been modernized to cater for the increasing demand, you can subtly feel the old world’s era of tea making. It is as though you were being transported to the day when the scent of freshly picked tea-leaves from their first and second flushes – tea terminology for harvest – were interspersed with the bitter smell of the fermented ones.

Last year Boh opened a tea centre at the plantation with a tea cafe to mesmerize even the most buzzing bee! Exquisitely named tea blends such as Gunung Chantik, Palas Supreme and Bukit Cheeding are featured on the menu, along with Boh alternative range such as Jasmine Green Tea, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemon Myrtle, Passionfruit Orange, Stawberry Raspberry as well as the Seri Songket flavored teas like Vanilla, Passion Fruit, Clove & Cardamom, Cinnamon, Earl Grey with Tangerine, Lemon with Mandarin, Lychee with Rose, Lime & Ginger and Mango. The choices are plentiful and offer something for everyone.

Narrative posters are arranged along the pathway to tell the history of Boh Tea Company and the natural environment of Cameron Highlands. There is also a video room where visitors can view short documentaries about tea processing and the heritage behind it. Tea Inside-Out

As I discovered on my visit, there is more to the tea bush than meets the eye or simply quenches the thirst. When it was suggested I gave my body a celestial spa seasoning by bathing in the brew, I was surprised and curious to say the least.

My research after visiting the region unveiled studies published in leading medical journals de­claring that tea is a potential heart tonic, cancer blocker, fat buster, virus fighter and cholesterol detoxifier; it also helps to stimulate the immune system and soothes arthritis. Not bad for a lowly shrub.

If all those are what a cuppa can do for you on the inside, then just image what it might do for you if you bathed in it. The antioxidants, hydrating properties, caffeine and fluoride found in tea mean that you need never feel guilty about reaching for the teapot and in The Spa Village at Cameron Highlands Resort, they offer it in tubs for you to soak in.

The Spa Village has fully embraced the natural resources of its immediate environment and taken it a step further to offer guests health benefits from the surroundings, taking visitors beyond their expecta­tions with the spa menu choices.

Signature Spa Treatments
Fresh Strawberry Escapade begins with a Strawberry Tea Bath, a beautiful sensual aqua experience with a difference. While relaxing music via earphones soothes frayed nerves, tea bags resting on the eyes will ease away tension and stress, leaving the body rehydrated and the mind rejuvenated. Following this is the refreshing body buff made of fresh strawberries, yoghurt and crushed oatmeal. The combination con­tains natural alpha-hydroxy acids that help soften and refine skin texture. Finally, the treatment rounds off with a scented massage treat to enhance sensations of pleasure and wellness to deeply heal the mind and body, soothing the soul as it does.

The Semai are the indigenous people of the State of Pahang where Cameron High­lands is located. In their culture, every forest product has a specific use. This cor­pus of knowledge accumulated though generations are not recorded, but within the minds of the elders who have mastered the skill through practice. It appears there is no ailment that cannot be cured using plants and their parts gathered from the jungle. Benefiting from this knowledge, The Spa Village has created Jungle Secrets of Anti-Ageing for Her and the Tok Batin Mystical Tradition for Him. Both provide three hours of bathing, massage, wraps and scrubs treatments incorporating these indigenous practices. These healing therapies are offered in the tranquil environment of one of the six treatment rooms here. Other than the six treatment rooms, there are eight tea bath tubs, two outdoor cabanas and a fully-equipped gymnasium.

The Cameron Highlands Resort also organizes guided day-treks into the jungle that are very informative and ensure you wont be wandering the hills the wrong way leaving you with three days between villages! This is where Jim Thompson mysteri­ously disappeared and was never found despite sending out the SAS troops. Off the tarmac road the paths require good walking shoes and you get a first hand oppor­tunity to learn about the fruits of the jungle and medicinal properties of plants. For the less adventurous who seek a stroll and exercise, the 18-hole golf course is just across the road.

For more information visit
www.cameronhighlandsresort.com, www.boh.com.my