We have been buying black tea directly from the farmers who grow and craft it since 2004. We personally visit the tea gardens and communities; we know the people and the land and are able to select the best harvests. We are proud to supply our black teas to many of the best restaurant and hotels around the world.
What is black tea, exactly?h
Black tea is a drink made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis - the same plant that gives us all true tea; black, oolong, green or white. What sets it apart is how the leaf is crafted. The essential steps the fresh green leaves take from harvesting to make a black tea are:
• Withering - to soften the leaf and reduce moisture
• Rolling - to break the cell walls and expose enzymes to oxygen
• Firing - heat applied to halt oxidisation at the exact point the perfect flavour is achieved, and to dry the tea
These processes darken the leaf and produce the rich flavour profiles of black tea.James Robinsonh
You’ll find a more detailed description of the method here (internal doc link to the section below
Pics of farmers
The role of the teamaker:
Every great teamaker undertakes these steps with great care and infinite variation.
but the leaf they craft varies depending on:
· Where it is grown (terroir)
· How it is grown (farming practices)
· Climatic conditions
· The season and method of harvesting
· Field to field; day to day.
Like the best winemakers or sourdough bakers, it is not a strict formula. The best black tea is guided by a teamaker’s senses, expertise, and experience. And that variation is precisely why there is not just one type of black tea, but a whole cornucopia of flavours to explore.
Pics of some different gardens showing terroirs.
Why is rare loose leaf black tea different from tea bags?
The difference lies in the crafting and the flavour.
Industrially processed black tea- churned out by vast machines with little input from a human is the sort of black tea is usually found in a teabag.
We source only the best black tea we can find which is crafted by skilled men and women, in small batches, to enhance the most sublime flavours.
Why isn’t the best tea black tea found in teabags?
The best black teas need room to unfurl as it infuses to release the best flavours. But more importantly we don’t want to add anything to our precious leaves especially not industrial chemicals, solvents and plastics associated with teabags and their manufacture. Even the most “eco-friendly” add something to your tea that doesn’t need to be there.
