Saturday, September 25, 2010

Ketepa Tea For Two Good Reasons

By Trudy Edwards

Ketepa tea is not a form of alternative tea, like red bush or peppermint. The name does not mean a variety; it stands for Kenya Tea Packers Limited, a farmer's cooperative that grows and sells premier tea from one of the world's largest and most highly regarded tea producing areas.

Kenya is the third largest tea producer and is known for high quality, flavor-rich tea. The name of this tea stands for Kenya Tea Packers Limited, a limited-liability company that represents and supports over 370,000 individual farmers. Rather than buying land and employing local people to labor for subsistence wages, this company is dedicated to promoting the independence and 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.

The co-op markets three main types of traditional tea - white, green, and black - and also offers spiced and flavored blends. The production methods are carefully designed to make only the finest tea, flavorful and rich in healthy antioxidants. White tea is the least processed, green tea is allowed to wither a bit more to develop its unique flavor, and tea leaves are fermented to produce the dark, caffeine providing black tea that most consumers prefer.

To produce the very finest beverages, only the top two leaves of each plant and the bud are used. The crop is carefully processed to protect it from oxygen, which can leach out the health benefits and minimize the natural flavor. Tea bags are individually wrapped, or sealed in foil, as is the loose tea, and should be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.

This company, justly proud of its products, also offers brewing advice. Don't use boiling water, which can make tea bitter. Rather, remove the water from the heat just before it boils and pour over the leaves, allowing them to steep just so long to make the best cup of tea possible.

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.

ketepa tea

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