Kenya grows purple tea leaves that make a royal cup of thistle colored purple tea.
Purple Tea
Black tea was first introduced in Kenya around 1904, on a farm on the foothills of Mount Kenya, today's farmers grow unique purple tea plants.
Growing Kenyan Fields of Purple Tea Leaves
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
8-31-2015
Kenyan farmers grow purple tea leaves that make a unique cup of purple tea.
Growing Fields of Purple Tea leaves in Africa’s Kenya
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| Kenyan farmers grow purple tea leaves that make a unique cup of purple tea. |
Kenya in East Africa is the world’s leading
exporters of tea and Kenya's Kirinyaga County town of Kerugoya is the crown
jewel of purple tea leaves.
The purple comes from leaves with high levels of anthocyanins, responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors in fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers.
The purple comes from leaves with high levels of anthocyanins, responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors in fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers.
Kenya's purple tea leaves were developed and pre-released
by the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya however, there is currently a very
small market for purple tea, the processing techniques use hand rolling
methods, a lengthy process.
According to the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya, currently Kenya produces and exports over 96 percent of its tea as black teas. The tea is sold to the world market in bulk largely used for blending lower quality teas.
Subsequently, Kenya’s teas fetch low prices at the markets. Introducing specialty purple tea is a challenging market for Kenya’s tea farmers since the new variety of purple tea sells for up to 4 times the price as black tea and red tea.
According to the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya, currently Kenya produces and exports over 96 percent of its tea as black teas. The tea is sold to the world market in bulk largely used for blending lower quality teas.
Subsequently, Kenya’s teas fetch low prices at the markets. Introducing specialty purple tea is a challenging market for Kenya’s tea farmers since the new variety of purple tea sells for up to 4 times the price as black tea and red tea.
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| Kenya's purple tea leaves |
Where to buy Kenyan purple tea? Canadian
Tealicious and US Lake Missoula Tea Company.
When brewing a perfect cup of purple tea, use a tea strainer. The tea strainer eliminates the need to strain off leaves later. Add your desired amount of tea leaves to a tea strainer or teapot. Cover with hot water a let steep for 5 minutes or until you have created your perfect cup of tea based on your preference.
When brewing a perfect cup of purple tea, use a tea strainer. The tea strainer eliminates the need to strain off leaves later. Add your desired amount of tea leaves to a tea strainer or teapot. Cover with hot water a let steep for 5 minutes or until you have created your perfect cup of tea based on your preference.
Did you know?
Tourism is number one in the Kenyan economy however, about 75 percent of Kenya’s population works at least part-time in agriculture activities. Tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, fish, pork, poultry, and eggs are the leading agriculture products in Kenya.
Tourism is number one in the Kenyan economy however, about 75 percent of Kenya’s population works at least part-time in agriculture activities. Tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, fish, pork, poultry, and eggs are the leading agriculture products in Kenya.