Tea House in Špišić Bukovica

Just an hour and a half drive from Zagreb, in the heart of Podravina, is one of the most special tourist attractions in continental Croatia - the Tea House, an Oasis of Peace in Špišić Bukovica. Located just seven kilometres from Virovitica, this modern tourist destination has attracted an increasing number of visitors in recent years who are looking for a different kind of excursion: a combination of nature, education and relaxation. Podravina is already known for its top-notch gastronomy, wines, and natural beauty, but the Tea House adds a completely new tourist dimension to the region. It is here that tea becomes a symbol of tradition, medicinal herbs and life in harmony with nature. It is particularly interesting to note that Podravina is today one of the most important regions for chamomile production in Europe, and the vast fields of Virovitica-Podravina County look almost unreal during flowering.

The Tea House Interpretation Centre- Oasis of Peace is designed as a modern educational and tourist centre dedicated to the culture of tea drinking, medicinal herbs and the natural resources of Podravina. Thanks to affordable tickets, visitors can tour the centre and sample different types of tea. The main building of the center is decorated as a space for research and relaxation. It houses an educational hall, a library and reading room, a digital herbarium and microscopes with which it is possible to observe the details of plants and get to know their world in a completely different way. A special part of the center is a mini educational trail with live plants such as sage, rosemary, mint and thyme. A walk along this trail introduces visitors to the medicinal properties of plants that have been used in folk medicine for centuries, but also the importance of preserving nature and pollinators such as bees and bumblebees.

The Tea House also takes visitors through the interesting history of one of the world's most popular beverages. According to legend, tea was created almost five thousand years ago in China when the Chinese emperor Shen Nung accidentally dropped tea leaves into boiling water. That moment marked the beginning of the tea drinking culture that later spread throughout the world. At the centre, you can learn interesting facts about Chinese tea ceremonies, the Japanese tradition of tea preparation, and the famous British “afternoon tea” ritual. Stories about luxurious symbols of tea culture, such as Da Hong Pao, considered the most expensive tea in the world, and the legendary teapot “The Egoist,” worth as much as three million dollars, also attract special attention.

The most special part of the Tea House is the outdoor area at the center, where six themed tea-tasting rooms are connected by an educational trail. Each tasting room is dedicated to a plant characteristic of the Mura-Drava Regional Park and the Natura 2000 zone. The tasting rooms are dedicated to chamomile, mint, nettle, linden, dandelion and wild rose or rosehip, and these teas can be tasted during the tour.

Chamomile, for which Podravina is particularly famous, has a calming effect and helps with insomnia and digestive problems. Mint refreshes the body and strengthens the immune system; nettle helps with allergies and detoxification; and linden tea is traditionally used for colds and relaxation. Rosehip is known for its high vitamin content and strengthening of the body's resistance. The scent of medicinal herbs, wooden tasting rooms and the complete peace of nature create a special experience that is why the Tea House is becoming an increasingly popular destination for continental tourism, especially if you want to spend a wonderful weekend in Virovitica-Podravina County or are going on a day trip combining the experience of drinking tea, the birthplace of Petar Preradović, the popular Klopotec... - just some of the tourist gems of Podravina.

Photo: Nikola Zoko