Where To Buy Black Tea And Other Teas Produced In KenyaPosted by Atkinson Hinton on May 31st, 2021 Where To Buy Black Tea And Other Teas Produced In Kenya When people think of tea, the first countries that come to mind are usually China and India, which makes sense as these are the world's biggest two tea producers, followed by Sri Lanka (near India). Kenya, by comparison, is slightly less well-known, even though it is currently the world's fourth largest tea-producing country, and has been for some time. For a long time, Kenyan teas were used primarily in blends, which partially explains the lack of familiarity with Kenyan teas among most people. However, in recent years, the specialty tea industry in Kenya has blossomed. This article highlights some of the interesting features of tea production in Kenya, and points you in the direction of buying high-quality artisan teas originating in Kenya. What makes tea production in Kenya special? The producers in Kenya face strong competition on the international market; these factors have strained many producers. In many regions of the world, conditions similar to these led farmer's to consolidate into large-scale factory farms, in an attempt to farm more efficiently. Kenya chose a different route, one that is likely to prove more sustainable in the long-run: diversifying. Rather than consolidating into large-scale operations, tea producers in Kenya have remained small, and instead focused their efforts on the development of new and innovative varieties. An overwhelming majority of tea produced in Kenya is grown on very small farms, less than one acre. These are then combined in factories which are still small. Although there is some large-scale cultivation of mass-produced bulk tea used in blends in Kenya, the majority of operations are still very small. Novel varieties of Kenyan tea: Kenya has produced innovative styles and varieties such as purple tea, a variety high in anthocyanins, the same purple pigments familiar from raspberries, blueberries, or blood oranges, and white matcha, a powdered tea similar in some respects to Japanese matcha, but distinct, and white in color rather than green. Kenya also produces green teas, orthodox black teas, including ones of very high grades, and even white teas, such as those resembling silver needle. Although the majority of tea produced in Kenya is black tea, many other types are produced as well. What do Kenyan teas taste like? It is impossible to generalize about Kenyan teas, but, as someone who has sampled numerous Kenyan teas, I will say that I have observed one common trend about them: they tend to be both very good and very interesting. If you are familiar with the teas of China, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Taiwan, and other more well-known regions, you will likely find Kenyan teas to offer something very different and unusual, very interesting. But besides just having an interesting and novel experience, you are likely to find some very high-quality teas, teas with a lot of complexity, and a broad range of teas from the most delicate to the most strong and powerful. Where can I buy tea from Kenya? Kenyan teas are available from a wide variety of retailers. Buying online is the best option for most people, but stores are beginning to stock single-region teas from Kenya. Many companies with a broad range of black tea offerings sell teas from Kenya, and even some companies specializing in Chinese tea are beginning to carry Kenyan offerings as well, especially ones that emulate Chinese styles. offre d'emploi tunisieLike it? Share it! More by this author |