Ketepa Tea For Two Good Reasons
Ketepa tea is interesting for two reasons. Number one, the tea is among the best in the world, being grown in Kenya and produced by following the best growing and production methods. Number two, the producer is a farmer-owned cooperative that brings prosperity to many small landholders in the remoter areas of this African country.
Kenya is the third largest grower and exporter of tea in the world, and the country’s fertile uplands is home to over 370,000 small landholders who grow the Camellia sinensis plant as their main cash crop. These farmers are member/owners of Kepeta, a company dedicated to producing premier tea and promoting the welfare of its member families.
Not only does the company buy and distribute tea for the farmers, it also has a clinic for its corporate staff and their families and gives educational support to many Kenyan children, from secondary school to university level. The company is committed to promoting the welfare of its members by producing premier tea and giving the profits back to the members.
These small farmers live in the upland regions where the plants grow and develop the rich flavors and the antioxidants that make tea a healthful and enjoyable beverage. The cooperative produces three of the four types of tea made from the Camellia sinensis plant – white, green, and black tea. White tea is the least processed kind and the highest in antioxidant benefits. Green is next, with a deeper color and richer flavor, while the tea leaves are fermented to make dark, flavorful black tea, the most widely used form.
Since the growers are dedicated to producing premier tea, they pick only the top two leaves and the bud of each plant. The leaves and buds are handled very carefully, protected from being exposed to air too long and being stored and packaged expertly every step of the process. In some forms, the leaves are granulated for the full release of flavor.
The website offers visual tours of the operation as well as brewing advice. It is interesting to note that the best way to brew tea is not with boiling water. It is better, these experts say, to use water just before it boils, as the flavor will be less bitter and the antioxidants unharmed.
All those who love tea and wish to make a positive difference in the world as well should seek out Kepeta tea, supporting the efforts of this African company with high ideals.
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