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Kenya Loose Teas

Newsflash!! For all the tea purveyors and novices, a new tea product from Kenya sold under Kisii Cafe has just hit the American market. I recently had an opportunity to taste some Kenya white Silver needle, Kenya Oolong and a variety of other Kenyan orthodox teas. First impression> smooth, fruity with a hint of maple syrup; in other words excellent teas all around.(would include it in my "caffeine fix" for the day). I went to a small cafe in Washington DC near the Verizon Center and had a "cuppa" and then ordered some for myself online. The tea has such a floral aroma considering it is a "natural black" with no artificial flavors. Luckily for me, the tea company out of NC was having a promotion and sent me a sample of their entire line. Wonderful folks, a wonderful tea line and hope to see it in my local grocery store.

Gtips

Reply to
Gtips
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Uh, I just visited

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only to find that most of their teas *are* flavored.

/Lew

Reply to
Lewis Perin

It's the silver needles and oolongs that puzzle me. I don't see these on their site -- they do have the Milima, which I would expect, but the other products are flavored blacks. Is it my ignorance, perhaps? I've never come across Kenya white, let alone a silver needle. Nor do I know of Kenya oolongs.

Reply to
pgwk

Hi all,

While I was in Africa someone told me Kenya is trying to produce white silver needle and Oolong. I met this Kenyan tea exporter in Zimbabwe. He was coming from UK after wining a huge contract with Harrods (according to him). I was very curious and gave him my detail so we can communicate with each other in the future. He never replied my messages. I don't know what to think.

Now after reading this post I am curious again to contact some friends in Kenya. I never had Kenyan white or Oolong tea. While I was in Africa I got a lot of news from different people how Kenya was trying to attract foreign investment in tea sector. If they process the tea leaf properly I believe the white tea will be more exotic than Chinese silver needle. Why I am so confident? Chinese silver needle is very light and popular for her sweet, slight buttery flavor( good silver needle of course, not the silver needle me and Lew saw in NY Chinese market). Kenyan tea estates are from higher altitudes, the volcanic soil always release a slight salty, full bodied mocha-caramel flavor. Kenyan silver needle will be more round flavored and thickness in taste.

I am going to DuPont Circle this week where the Shimba Cafe is. Lets see if I can find some information from them.

Gtips could you please provide me more detail about the location?

Thanks,

Ripon Arlington, VA

Reply to
riponz07

Do keep us informed. The problem about the Silver Needles is that they rest on very selective tea plucking by hand and the oolongs on very skilled processing. Kenya is moving in the opposite direction. The tea pickers union recently lost a major court case trying to block the introduction of harvesting machines that will eliminate 150,000 jobs (If I recall correctly, James Finlay is the company pushing them.) The union pointed out that the government had promised to create 50,000 new jobs. The industry is the world's #1 exporter but prices are dropping and competition from Malawi and Vietnam increasing. If Kenya is moving into elite white/oolong production, it's definitely an interesting development. Has anyone on RFDT actually drank one of them? I vcan't find a single reference to them on Yahoo and can't locate any supplier.

Re Shimba Hills, I live in Northern Virginia so an definitely interested in hearing your rating of it.

fromwww.kisiicafe.com

Reply to
pgwk

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