Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
The strength and vigor of Jasbirey Village, in the foothills of Sandkaphu Peak, inspire our traditional Black Tea (Kalo Chia means black tea in Nepali). Partially rolled by hand, this traditional method produces a distinctive, nuanced cup. Kalo tea is characterized by a rich caramel flavor and a lasting gentle finish (because of its high altitude cultivation and extended oxidation process.) Many thanks to our Kickstarter supporter, Aaron Williams, who named this tea – the name means “black tea” in Nepalese.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh wow … I’m loving this tea! It’s rich and sweet with caramel-y notes, and it has a full-body and robust character. This is the kind of tea that I LOVE to turn to for that little “pick-me-up” in the early afternoon when I need to recharge. This tea has some vigor to it and a really delicious flavor.
This is a strong, bold tasting tea, but there is a gentle smoothness to it too. It doesn’t have a harsh astringency. There is some astringency toward the tail, a mild drying sensation. But there is no bitterness. There is no harshness. This is the strong, suave kind of bold tea. As I near the bottom of the cup, I start to pick up on a little more astringency. It’s a little more dry but again … not a harsh dryness.
There are notes of cocoa and caramel, with a sweet fruit note – sweet plum. There are woodsy, earthy notes to this as well. It doesn’t have the same kind of kick-in-the-butt gusto that some teas have, but it has a really pleasing “chewy” sort of flavor to it that evokes thoughts of freshly baked bread. It’s a very satisfying tea.
I steeped this for 3 minutes at 205°F, which is what I usually go with when I have leaves with golden tips. I’m not sure exactly why, but for some reason, I want to be just a little (about 7°) gentler with the pretty golden leaves. This produced a really flavorful cup that is something that I’d love to indulge in regularly. It’s one of those amazing, decadent teas that make you realize just how truly incredible tea is!
