Purple Tea and the Kenyan Terik Community

A brief history

Purple tea, a recent addition to the tea industry, traces its origins back to the first plant mutation observed in the Assam tea gardens of India. The Tea Research Foundation of Kenya (TRFK) initiated research on this unique variety, aiming to develop a strain well-suited to Kenya’s growing conditions. Cultivation efforts began in the early 1980s, and by 2011, seedlings were made commercially available to small-scale farmers in Kenya. Over the past 25 years, Kenya has successfully developed its own purple tea, which flourishes in the cooler, high-altitude regions, specifically between 4,500 and 7,500 feet.

How is purple tea made?

The Nandi Hills in Kenya, with their high elevation and favorable climate, offer an ideal environment for cultivating purple tea. Although purple tea, like black, green, and white teas, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, it stands out due to its distinct processing method. The plucking standards for the tea leaves are stringent, ensuring that only the finest leaves are selected. These leaves undergo a slight withering before being immediately subjected to a panning process to halt oxidation. They are then rolled in small batches and dried, preserving their unique properties and benefits.

The Terik Community: The culture behind the purple tea

Let’s delve into an essential aspect of purple tea development: the people who grow it. The Terik community, an ethnic group primarily located in Kenya’s Nandi County, boasts a rich heritage of traditional beliefs, customs, and agricultural practices, including the cultivation of various crops and teas. While preserving their cultural traditions, the Terik people also embrace modern life, playing a significant role in contributing to Kenya’s diverse and vibrant heritage. We collaborate directly with local farms in Nandi Hills, managed by the Terik community, who are integral to the entire cultivation process.

Empowering the community: TEPAD Kenya

The Terik Essential Programs Agency for Development, Kenya (TEPAD Kenya) is a non-profit organization that empowers marginalized communities in Kenya. They help them through education and sustainable development initiatives. Their programs provide access to quality education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and women, fostering economic empowerment, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Purple Tea: An antioxidant powerhouse

Purple tea stands out for its distinctive purple hue and exceptionally high antioxidant content, containing nearly double the amount found in other teas. A key antioxidant in purple tea is anthocyanin, which is also found in purple foods like blueberries, acai, and pomegranates. Remarkably, the concentration of anthocyanin in purple tea is over 400 times greater than in green tea leaves, making it a vibrant and potent choice packed with health benefits.

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