by Lynn Mason

Created on: August 06, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2010

Africa might not be the first place to come to mind when one thinks of tea, but tea has become an important crop there. Africa has become a significant source of the world’s commercial tea supply and is becoming quite well known for its bright colorful teas. An overview of African tea must include both traditional and herbal teas.

-Traditional tea -

British missionaries first brought traditional tea seed from the Camilla Sinesis plant to Africa in the 1700s. However, production didn’t begin in earnest until after WWII and recent decades have seen a greatly increased production. Black tea is now grown in Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Mozambique. Today, nearly twenty-five percent of the world’s black tea is grown in Kenya.

In western Kenya, evaporating water from Lake Victoria supplies the moisture for the tea trees grown in the highlands. The tea trees produce strong tea that after processing makes a blackish brew. Almost all production is of mass market quality and is processed with the CTC, or cut, twist, and curl, method. This method produces small leaf particles of suitable grade for use in blends and tea bags. Many Indian teas are blended with black tea from Africa.

However, some fine black and green teas are now being produced on estates in the Kenya highlands. Kenyan teas are starting to win acclaim for their rich aroma and taste. These fine teas have a dark amber color and strong, spicy fruit aroma.

-Herbal teas-

 Herbal teas have been very popular in Africa for years and now, thanks to health conscious interests, they are gaining popularity across the globe.

Rooibos or Red Bush tea has been enjoyed by South Africans in the bush for many years. This herbal tea has steadily been gaining in popularity due largely to news of its health benefits and can now be found throughout the world market. Not a traditional tea, it comes from the Aspalathus Linearis plant, which is native to the limestone slopes of the Cedarburg Mountains.  

Rooibos is naturally caffeine free and rich in vitamin C.  Red Bush tea has long been used in traditional African medicine to treat digestive ailments, skin problems and allergies. In South Africa it is mixed with milk and given to colicky infants. Research has shown it to be a rich source of antioxoxidants with a high level of flavonoids.  

Rooibos is oxidized during processing which produces its distinctive red brown color. After plucking the leaves are bruised and piled in mounds to ferment and then spread in the sun to dry. The tea has a sweet, nutty flavor and unlike true teas does not become bitter if left to steep too long.

Another herbal tea favorite from South Africa, Honeybush, is produced from the Cyclopedia Intermedia plant. It is also naturally caffeine free and shares many of the same health benefits of red tea.  The honeybush plant produces honey scented flowers and to produce the sweetest tea it is harvested while in bloom.  It produces a reddish brown brew with a sweet, mild citrus and slightly spicy taste.

Sources:

Accessed on 3 August 2009

http://www.teagenius.com/tea-growing-areas-of-africa /tea-from-kenya.html

http://africantea.com/

http://www.rooibostea.com/

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