Africa may be very famous for its delicious coffee, but where there is coffee, there is often tea too. And the one that comes from Africa is delicious, strong and very unique. Imagine hot weather, rich dark red soil, tropical and sub-tropical climates and a lot of sun. That’s exactly how many African teas taste like - delicious, earthy, and hiding a very special warm character. Africa is a home of many teas - from herbal rooibos and honey bush, native to South Africa, to white, green, oolong, black and even dark fermented tea. Although pure African real tea is not as easy to find as Chinese or Indian tea, it’s often included in many tea blends. For example, English Breakfast. Interestingly, Kenya is one of the biggest tea producers in the world, right after China and Japan.
Map of tea production around the world.
What we call real teas are teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant. All real teas - white, yellow, green, oolong, black and dark are made from the same plant. The difference? How they are processed.
Types of African Tea
Real Teas from Camellia Sinensis
- Kenyan Purple Tea:
- Kenyan Black Tea:
- Rwandan Tea:
- Ethiopian Tea:
Kenyan purple tea is a new type of tea created by the Kenyan Tea Research Foundation. Purple tea is not a special type of tea - it’s a special cultivar that can be used for making, for example, green or black tea. Why purple? Because the tea leaves contain high levels of anthocyanin, a special pigment that gives color to fruits and vegetables such as acai berries or purple cabbage. It has a high free radical scavenging rate, even higher than green tea. Kenyan purple tea benefits include help with weight loss, brain protection from neurodegenerative diseases and an anti-cancer activity. Teas to try?
There are many types of Kenyan black tea. Many of them are strong, hearty and smooth, and a great choice for breakfast tea time. Kenya is the third largest tea producer in the world. Many of the teas are produced using the CTC or Cut Tear and Curl method and have small pellet-shaped leaves.
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Rwanda is a very interesting country in the tea world. Although small, it produces delicious high grown tea including black, green and white. Rwanda is probably one of the most artisanal tea producers in Africa, and the one very new to tea production. The history of Rwandan tea is not long - it started only 70 years ago.
Ethiopia is well known for its coffee, but it produces great tea too. Tea production in Ethiopia started only a bit less than 100 years ago. Interestingly, tea is not a majorly important product-but tea drinking is.
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Herbal Teas
Africa is the home of two most delicious herbal teas in the world - rooibos or red bush and honey bush, both coming from South Africa. Both rooibos and honey bush are available in two styles - fermented and unfermented.
- Red Rooibos Tea:
- Green Rooibos Tea:
- Honey Bush Tea:
- North African Mint Tea:
The ultimate African herbal drink that grows exclusively in South Africa has won many hearts around the world over the last few decades. In fact, it was mostly unknown in the United States until about 20 years ago. Redbush tea is often described as one of the healthiest herbal beverages in the world, and the one with the prettiest color too. Red rooibos have a high levels of antioxidants, no caffeine and is suitable for all age groups. It’s strong and earthy, which makes it perfect for blending with every possible spice, fruit, flower or - chocolate.
Green rooibos is a fresher, unfermented type of rooibos tea. Just like the red one, it’s made from the plant called Aspalathus linearis. Green rooibos usually contains higher levels of antioxidants. Think of green and red rooibos as a herbal caffeine free versions of green and black tea. They both have a wide range of benefits, but the green may provide more antioxidans than the red one. Green rooibos has a fresher, lightly sweet flavor that can sometimes be similar to green tea. Unlike green tea, it’s naturally caffeine free and has no bitterness at all, even if you over-brew it.
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Honey bush tea looks very similar to the rooibos tea. This South African herbal tea is made from Cyclopia plant species. It’s a bit more brownish than rooibos and has a similar flavor with less earthiness and more woodiness. Honey bush contains no caffeine and it may provide many health benefits. Interestingly, just like the red tea, honey bush has been available for only two decades.
North African Mint tea is a tea so well-known we often forget it comes from Africa too. It’s served throughout North Africa, for example Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania and other countries. Depending on the country, it may contain other ingredients too, such as pine nuts. It’s sweet and made with a lot of fresh mint.
African Tea Recipes
There are many variations of African tea out there but they all basically have strong flavors from using different spices. These days African tea is generally ‘escorted’ with bread and butter and whatever else.
Spiced African Tea Recipe
This recipe captures the essence of traditional African tea with its robust blend of spices. Here’s how to make it:
- Measure the spices into a large saucepan, add water and bring to the boil.
- Remove the spice infused water from the hob.
- Stir through the milk and allow the tea to ‘cook’ or to ‘nature’ for about 5 - 10 minutes.
Ethiopian Spiced Tea
Unlike the regular spiced tea with black tea leaves and milk, the one from Ethiopia doesn’t contain milk.
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Sage Tea from North Africa
There’s not much to this fragrant tea. Let all ingredients steep together for 4-5 minutes. Traditionally this would be made very sweet. Serve in small glass teacups from your local Middle Eastern market, if possible.
At Home of Thamani, tea is more than just a drink-it’s an inspiration for culinary creations. At Home of Thamani, we take pride in crafting blends inspired by Africa’s vibrant landscapes and traditions. Discover also African-inspired recipes !
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It’s not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every person is different and may react to different herbs and teas differently. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own.
