Region: Rukeri is an orthodox tea produced in the north west of Rwanda, the tiny quality-tea growing Central African country nestling between Uganda, Tanzania and Congo.

Rukeri is the garden mark for orthodox black tea manufactured by Cyohoha-Rukeri Tea Estate, Africa’s only tea estate with a USA owner. The high yielding estate is set out in a remote valley on rich swamp land soil; it has a good reputation for CTC tea but has only been making orthodox tea for the last two years.

For tasting the tea was steeped in 140ml water at 100⁰C for six minutes.

Leaf: very even black/brown twisted needles with some silver tip and attractive bloom.

Infusion – visual: bright copper colour, rolled leaf and tender stem

Infusion – aroma: fresh and sweet with attractive hints of apple and wintergreen

Liquor – visual: deep orange amber cup, bright as a button

Liquor – taste: excellent flavour and character, sweet, round and nutty – enough briskness to refresh the palate without the need for milk to quell astringency

Summary: Must be tried – unusually for an African tea this Rukeri OP is great without milk – in fact it has definite hints of a high grown Ceylon. No surprise then, that the factory manager is Sri Lankan – it certainly shows in the quality.

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