Dressed in softness and humility, it is in the valley of Papeiti that Tekura, creator of Arôme’s Tahiti, welcomes Women of Polynesia. By the edge of her garden overflowing with treasures, we only need to listen to delight in the graceful song of the Otatare. We settle comfortably to the melodies that mingle with the caress of the wind, the dogs sleeping in the sun, and it is in this gentle atmosphere that the young woman opens up.
Tekura was born in Tahiti in 1997. She grew up surrounded by her peers on family land in Papara.
It is here that she created her business: Arôme’s Tahiti, a clever blend of culture, nutrition, and medicine. While the brand offers herbs and blends ready to season dishes with flavor, we can also find rā’au Tahiti.
She cultivates, harvests, dries, packages, and sells her products herself, wearing all the hats of her business alone.
In the heart of her garden, the farmer collects plants in a real permaculture paradise. Without any pesticides, the vegetation she waters with patience grows under her caring gaze.
“In my faa’apu, I reconnect with myself. I love observing nature, the plants, and the weather.”
By making agriculture her profession, Tekura participates in the local economy, encouraging us to nourish ourselves from the earth’s offerings.
“By consuming locally, we pollute less because the things come from closer. We are on a small island, so of course, it’s difficult, but when possible, it’s better to do it.”
E IN SERVICE OF BODY AND SPIRIT
THE END AND THE BEGINNING
If we look back, this path was not all laid out for her. At least, that’s what she believed.
“Initially, I wanted to work in an office, quietly. Then I had a breakthrough.”
Some time before creating her business, while Tekura was still in high school, she lost her older brother, with whom she was very close. This heartbreaking loss pushed her to question more about the world around her.
“In the years following my brother’s departure, I asked myself what I really wanted to do with my life; I felt lost. Agriculture is a profession that encompasses all the principles I want to have. Taking care of nature and, in doing so, taking care of ourselves.”
She then began to research permaculture, became interested in blue economy, read extensively, and trained to become a farmer. In this vegetable garden, it is impossible to ignore all the scents that intertwine and reveal the colors of her hard work, which, in a way, is an ode to life.
LOCAL AGRICULTUR
A FAMILY AFFAIR
On the family land, Tekura is not the only one who has reaped the flowers of perseverance.
“My grandfather cultivated noni, my mother made vanilla, and my grandmother loved ornamental plants; she grew them everywhere. Cultivating the land where I grew up is like getting closer to my childhood, to my grandparents, and to everything I loved most in my life.”
Enveloped in fertile energy, she learns to respect this greenery that surrounds and protects her. This garden is her place of life and work, a fertile cocoon where ideas and enthusiasm are born. Although she works alone, she sees each step of her process as a lesson.
“Working the land teaches us patience. It also teaches us humility; you cannot change nature. It is up to you to adapt to it, not for it to adapt to you.”
UNWAVERING MOTIVATION
Being her own boss is a challenge that Tekura was not afraid to take on. Thanks to her determination, she has managed to create a haven of peace that allows her to share what she loves: healthy, local, and eco-friendly products. From this experience, she continues to grow and remains full of new ambitions.
“In a long time, maybe thirty years, I would like to open a tea and herbal tea room. We would also serve small bites to eat, and everything would come from the fa’a’apu.”
For those who would like to start, she does have one piece of advice:
“Everyone has their own mindset. To do this job, you really have to want it.”
Thus, she reminds us of the essentials: the secret to success is, of course, patience, but also passion.
