The hillsides behind Rize are covered in tea bushes from sea level to about 1,000 metres, and walking among the plantations is one of the pleasures of the city. There is no formal trail system — you simply head uphill from the city on any of the lanes that climb through the gardens, and within twenty minutes you are in a different world of neat rows of dark green bushes, mountain streams, and wooden farmhouses.
The best time to visit for tea picking is the harvest season from May to October. During the main harvest you will see women in rubber boots working their way along the rows with plastic bags, picking the top two leaves and a bud from each plant. If you stop and show genuine interest, you will almost certainly be offered tea and conversation.