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Churachandpur valley, Manipur
Seasonal plucking
3000 ft
Wild Assamica trees
Loose leaf black tea
This tea is intriguing as it is absolutely wild! The tea bushes in the forests of Manipur have grown in the wild and naturally for centuries. The galangal in this black tea also grows wild in the forest. Galangal is a rhizome belonging to the same family as ginger and is a culinary spice in south-east Asian cooking. Based on Ayurveda, galangal also has medicinal properties and helps with digestion. The wild galangal used in this tea, is of the lesser galangal variety and has a fennel flavor instead of the usual ginger and pepper flavors. When it mingles with the woody forest notes of the wild tea leaves, the combination is sublime and gives an immense sense of satisfaction.
The method of infusing the galangal rhizome flavors in the black tea is rigorous and meticulous. Unlike most blending, which is done by mixing dried tea leaves with dried herbs and spices, the blending of the wild galangal black tea is adopted from the method used to infuse flavors of jasmine in Chinese jasmine teas. Fresh galangal rhizomes are blended overnight with fresh wild tea leaves in a basket, separated in the morning, and then the tea leaves alone are sun-dried. The process is then repeated several times to achieve the right flavors and aromas. It has been thought that this method of blending gives a lovely aromatic infusion of flavors.
High-Moderate
Number of infusions per 2.5 g serving: 3
2.5 gms of tea (use a digital scale)
120-150 ml (4-5 fl-oz) or 1/2 - 2/3rd cup of water at 90°C - 99°C (or 195°F - 210°F)
This tea works great for the gongfu method of steeping as it helps coax out all the subtle flavors.
We recommend 5 gm of tea
100 ml water (approximate 10-20 ml of water per 1 gm of tea) at 85°C - 90°C (or 185°F - 195°F).
Origin
Surrounded by small hills and narrow valleys, Churachandpur, locally called Lamka, is the second largest town in Manipur after Imphal. Misty and cloudy with rainfall throughout the year, the hills surrounding the valley make for an ideal setting for the growth of quality tea. Tea has grown wild and thrived in these forests for centuries. Wild tea bushes have deeper root systems and, therefore, can absorb higher nutrients from the soil and develop complex flavors. In addition, the surrounding flora helps add further unique flavors and aromas to the tea. The tea leaves are foraged from these wild tea bushes and then handcrafted by mountain artisans. The tea leaves are harvested from wild tea bushes, no chemicals or fertilizers are used, and the forest's natural ecosystem is preserved.
Meet
The sangai is an endangered subspecies of Elds deer found only in Manipur, India. According to Manipur folklore the animal has a deep cultural significance and is symbolized as the connecting soul between humans and nature.
Manipur Wild Galangal Black
Volume of tea is smaller that i expected but the tea was tasty
My fiancé and I had the pleasure of trying several amazing teas from Herbs and Kettles at PDX Tea Fest. My breath was taken away. Particularly, this one and the Summer Bounty Darjeeling Black. Both have such strong flavors but somehow manage to go down so smooth. This one certainly is great for midafternoon pick me ups. The Summer Bounty had that wonderfully full feeling of the best Darjeeling Black teas but goes down so smoothly. Immediately a new go to for morning wake ups. I am completely on the Herbs and Kettles train now. Will be refilling stock once I’ve enjoyed my Tea Fest bounty to completion.
My spouse and I stopped by the booth at the Chicago Tea Festival. First, I wanted to remark how friendly, patient, and welcoming the gentleman was when he was giving us samples. I tried many teas at the event but these truly stood out out their flavor. This was my first experience with a smoky tea and I am currently enjoying the tea right now with a Mediterranean Roasted Veggie bowl. The quality alone stands out and I been truly been converted to this brand. Thank you again for this wonderful tea and your kindness to us.
I sampled this tea at the Chicago Tea Festival and fell in love with the rich earthy flavor. The fragrance evokes the wonderful experience of walking into an antique wooden building (think ancient hand hewn beams), it is absolutely unique and marvelous - I am hooked! Btw, the description mentions flavors of fennel - I don’t enjoy fennel and I do not taste that in this brew. If I had only read the description instead of sampling it in person, I probably wouldn’t have tried it and would have missed out on what has become my most favorite tea.
