Colombian Green Tea

Colombia is most famous for its coffee, but did you know that it’s also an emerging grower and producer of white, green and black loose leaf tea? A relative new-comer in the commercial tea business, the tea is grown and harvested between the beautiful Andes Mountains and the Amazon. Tea plantations are nestled alongside a thriving, protected rainforest making the tea rich and deep in flavour and aroma.

The young volcanic soils naturally promote lush tea plant growth of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The consistent climate results in a bountiful production of tasty, delicate tea-tips throughout the year. The pristine, sustainable environment where Colombian teas are grown and harvested is exceptionally rich in minerals and the tea plants are nourished by pure mountain waters, supporting excellent organic teas.

Colombian tea has many aspects that make it unique. The tea bushes are planted in a particular way; spaced out and kept at relatively low height. The tea plants are not of the same variety and a mix of Sinensis, Assamica, and Cambodian species are planted. In other words, the result is a natural blend of tea leaves in each harvest.

Why Colombia for Tea Production?

Tea growing in Colombia only goes back as far as the early 1950s and is the legacy of the Llano family. The period in time saw Columbia in conflict and with an increasing downturn in the economy the Ministry of Agriculture shipped in tea seeds from Sri Lanka, in the hope that farmers would trial growing of the plants. Entrepreneurially minded, Don Alberto Llano Buenaventura, jumped at the opportunity and after heading to Peru to learn the tea making trade, convinced his father, Don Joaquin Llano Gonzalez, already a prominent coffee farmer to give growing tea a go. By 1954, the Llanos produced their first drinkable loose leaf tea, under the Té La Sofia estate name, which was later branded as Hindú, which became hugely popular with the people of Colombia.

An Interesting Green Tea

An interesting and unusual tea thanks to the topography it is grown in, our Colombian Organic Green Tea comes from the renowned Bitaco gardens. Grown 2000 meters above sea level, the high altitude offers strength and body in flavour that keeps fresh and grassy notes. Colombian green teas have a whole spectrum of flavours which can range from green and fresh to vegetal or herbaceous and even fruity with hints of strawberries. The unique climate creates nuances within the tea that are not only interesting but unique. The dark green tea tips are wiry and crispy yet the tea is steamed using the familiar Japanese methods, creating an interestingly flowery and fruity green tea.

Green Tea – The Benefits

We all know that green tea is one of the most antioxidant-rich beverages around, Scientists, nutritionists and doctors from across the globe have been making backed-up claims to say so. Meaning a cup of the green loose leaf tea a day, should help maintain a healthy lifestyle!

To add to its interesting attributes, green tea, and other teas, contain the amino acid L-Theanine. The compound has a calming effect, even though the caffeine offers concentration, the presence of L-Theanine lowers anxiety and restlessness.
Source - Web MD

Another amazing fact about green tea is that it contains other antioxidants called catechins, which are proven to kill bacteria and put a stop to viruses like flu. As a result, these bacteria-busting flavonoids can potentially lower the risk of infection.
Source - Science Direct

You can read more about Japanese and Chinese green teas here!