Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Single Origin Teas
Tea Description:
While Kenyan teas are lesser known, they are quite popular. The majority of tea bag tea actually comes from the flat growing areas of Kenya: in a recent UN food estimate (see below), the country’s tea production represented around 13% of the world’s supply. However, it is rare to find a non-CTC tea. CTC, otherwise known as Crush Tear Curl, is the production method used for turning tea leaves into tea dust, for more rapid brewing in tea bags. Kenya Kaporet is rare in that orthodox production methods are employed, allowing for a more distinct flavor than a standard tea bag will offer.
Kenya Kaporet produces a bold, robust malty flavor often associate with black teas. It brews quite strong, and can handle milk well.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I’ve probably said this before, but, the more I try teas from Kenya, the more I’m loving them! This Kaporet Keyna Black Tea from Single Origin Teas is so rich and flavorful!
I am in complete agreement with the last paragraph in the above description, this tea is indeed bold and robust, with a delightful malty tone. It does brew strong! I tend to usually add a little extra leaf when I brew teas because I like a good, strong flavor, but that wasn’t necessary with this tea, because it brewed up strong and full-flavored without the 1/2 teaspoon or so of extra leaf!
And while I believe this tea would stand up well with the addition of milk, I am liking it served straight up with no additions. It has a powerful flavor – the kind of tea with which I like to start the day because it has that GUSTO I look for in a morning black tea. It’s invigorating, but, it also has a gentle smoothness to it that nudges you awake rather than rudely screams in your face. It’s the nice way to wake up!
In the distance, I taste notes of fruit. A little further off, I taste faint hints of flower. There is some sweetness to the cup from these two characteristics, but, most of the sweetness I taste is a burnt-sugar caramel sweetness that melds with the malty notes really well.
There is that chewy, freshly baked, bread-y type of flavor that I enjoy – vaguely reminiscent of a high quality Assam tea, but without the bitterness that is often associated with Assam. There is a savory quality to this tea as well, and this savory note hits the palate at about mid-sip, just as you’re nearing the finish. This isn’t an overly astringent cuppa, but, there is some dry astringency toward the tail.
Overall, an excellent black tea from Kenya.
