A Guide to Colombian Tea

Colombia is famous for its coffee but what about their tea? It’s well known that tea is produced in most parts of the world, but Colombian tea is a special case because this country mostly focuses on coffee.

History of Colombian Tea

The history of tea in Colombia started in the 1950s when the government bought tea trees from Brazil and started tea plantations in three areas to diversify agriculture.

One of the plantations started was in Don Joaquin Llano in the west Andres. Alberto Llano was studying in England and grew to appreciate the tea culture. On his return to Colombia he was determined to revive the tea plantation of his father, Alberto Llanos’ lands. He dedicated most of his time to learning about the tea plant. When he gained enough knowledge and confidence he extended the tea plantation and built a factory.

Colombia – A New Tea-Growing Region

Colombia is a relatively new area for tea growing. Tea is grown and harvested in the exotic, beautiful and peaceful Andes Mountains of Colombia.

Tea plantations are nestled alongside a thriving, protected rainforest. The tea is grown in rich, deep, young volcanic soils that naturally promote lush tea plant growth.

The consistent climate results in a bountiful production of tasty, delicate tea-tips throughout the year.

Colombia is a tropical country and has similar weather all year round so it can harvest tea all year. Tea is grown in soil rich in nitrogen, zinc coal and copper which contribute respectively with the development of plenty of two leaves and a bud. The tea is soft, sweet and low in acidity.

Colombian tea

This tea has many aspects that make it unique. The tea bushes are planted in a peculiar way; they are spaced out and quite short. The tea plants themselves are not of the same variety. It’s a mix of sinensis, assamica, and Cambodian. In other words, the result is a natural blend of tea leaves in each harvest.

The orthodox tea production only started a few years ago, probably because the Colombian market for specialty tea has had a hard time to grow because there’s a strong coffee culture.

Our Recommended Colombian Teas

We have 3 fantastic Colombian teas for you to try here at Cup of Tea!

MALTY BLACK

Malty Black loose leaf tea

Organic Logo Overly

This is an organic Colombian black tea. This malty black tea originates from the foggy highlands of Colombia. A must for every Assam lover this tea impresses with a full bodied character and nuances of delicate sweet sultanas, dried plums and traces of blackcurrants. Luxurious, smooth and soft with a light subtle sweetness

Brewing time 3-4 minutes
£8.40 for 100g bag

COCOA KISSES

Cocoa Kisses loose leaf tea

A single origin blended tea, containing chocolate. What more could one ask for! This black tea is grown in the tropical country of Colombia. This blend contains the same leaf as our Organic Colombian Black; a completely oxidized tea base with perfectly harvested rich, copper coloured leaves and raw cacao nibs and pieces added to it. The cocoa used comes from a small farmer in the area around San Andres de Tumaco, an area in the Southwest of Colombia close to Ecuador. The region is known for producing some of the finest, most aromatic cocoas in the world. Bursting with full flavour this is a mild black tea with a hint of cocoa. The fine sweet touch of the tea is underlined by the natural tartness and hint of chocolate of the cocoa. This isn't a sweetened chocolate that you'd find in a candy bar, but rather a rich complex flavour profile of tropical flavour’s coupled with an underlying bitterness of a dark chocolate.

Brewing time 3-4 minutes
£12.80 for 100g bag

COLOMBIAN BLACK ORGANIC

Colombian Black organic loose leaf tea

Organic certified

This tea comes from the Northwest of Colombia and is an organic black tea. This tea is grown at a high elevation of 1,800-2,050 meters at the start of the Andean mountain range. It is grown in parts of northwest Colombia called 'Departamento del Choco'. The ground is rich in minerals and together with the proximity to the equator, which provides an average of four hours of sunshine per day, allows the growing of this truly special and rare tea. The tea leaves have a rich copper colour. This is a fine black tea with nuances of honey and fruit. Despite the soft character this tea is still expressive and full-flavoured.