“Origin: Satemwa Estate; Thyolo, Malawi; Southeast Africa Dry Leaf: This is the most unique tea I’ve ever seen. The leaves are moss green color and have been hand-wrapped first stretching in a...” Read full tasting note
Speciality tea from Satemwa, where Alexander Cathcart Kay has pioneered the development of hand-made varieties.
Satemwa Estate is in Thyolo (“Cholo”), in the Shire (“Shiray”) Highlands in the far south of the country. Nyasaland (now Malawi) was the first country in Africa to be planted with tea, and in 1928 Maclean Kay introduced the first seed from India. The Satemwa garden is now managed by his grandson Alexander, who has pioneered the development of hand-made varieties, arousing great interest. He has also helped Beverly Wainwright in the development of her black and green teas at Amba in Sri Lanka. This week’s Zomba Pearls are made by hand-rolling each leaf, after a long withering stage. The leaves have an unrefined artisal appearance quite unlike pearl teas from China, but have a charm all their own.
2 tsp per cup (200-250ml), water at 75-80°C; infuse 1-2 minutes, repeat. Use 5g in a 200ml gaiwan. Water at 75-80°C; infuse 1-2 minutes, repeat.
Canton Tea Co is a London-based tea company trading in high grade, whole leaf Chinese tea. We have exclusive access to some of the best jasmine, white, green, oolong, black and authentic puerh teas available. In our first year, we scooped Six Golds at the 2009 Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards. Our Jasmine Pearls won the top three star gold award, endorsing it as the best available in the UK.