Tea and origin: Black tea from the Satemwa Estate on Thyolo Mountain in Malawi
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There are some wonderful developments going on in the African tea industry right now, and from what I can tell, the Satemwa Estate is one of the leading innovators. This is the first time I’ve tried one of their teas that is not part of blend. Read on to see what I think.
Tasting notes
Dry leaf: The dry leaf consists of broken leaves that have a fresh, sweet aroma. When the dry leaf is added to warmed crockery, it exposes a malty aroma
Infused tea: The tea cups out a dark brown liquor with a slightly sweet aroma. It is a full-bodied tea that has a moderate amount of astringency. The flavour of the liquor has a malty body and a sweet finish
Infusion tips: Infuse two to three minutes with 85 to 90C water to drink without milk. To drink with milk, infuse three to four minutes with 85 to 95C water. Letting the water cool a bit is highly advised. You will get two (possibly three) infusions out of this tea
Conclusions: This tea has characteristics that I associate with many east African teas, but it isn’t overloaded with strong tannins that require half a pint of milk to tame. While this tea is good without milk, I think a splash of milk rounds out the flavours and makes it richer. If you like Kenya Milima, this is a tea you should try. However, compared to most Milimas I’ve tried, this tea is smoother, although it has the body and astringency to make it a solid breakfast cuppa
Retail price: 50 gram tin for £6.50
