Organic Georgian "Strawberry Jam" Black Tea

Kolkhida — Georgian Tea from the legendary Black Sea Kingdom

From western Georgia, where Black Sea breezes meet the Caucasus Mountains, Kolkhida (ქოლხიდა) is a Georgian tea cultivar specifically suited for the region’s cold climate. The name is a reference to "Colchis", the ancient Greek exonym for an ancient legendary kingdom this part of Georgia. Imereti is one of the country’s tea-growing regions, alongside Guria, Adjara and Samegrelo; western Georgia’s more mild, humid climate and proximity to the Black Sea made tea cultivation possible. Cool mountainous weather in this region can stress the tea leaves, bringing out a sweeter and less astringent tea. Similar principles to growing "high mountain tea" where the cooler weather can attribute more l-theanine, reduce tannins, and increase the natural "sweetness" of the tea.

Tea first arrived in Georgia from China in 1847, when nobleman Mikheil Eristavi established an early commercial plantation in Guria after bringing tea seeds from China, reportedly smuggled out of the country. Later in the 1890s, a Russian tea entrepreneur Konstantin Popov started tea farms in Adjara and collaborated with Chinese specialist Liu Junzhou, who supplied cuttings and tea seeds. At the very beginning, Chinese expertise helped create the foundation for the modern Georgian Tea Industry. The unique terroir, the beautiful snowy mountains, and the humid sea breezes makes this tea a truly unique one. It's also the most Northern tea growing region in the entire planet!

During the Soviet Union, close to 95% of all tea available was Georgian Tea. This was a huge industrialized crop, and a way to be self-sustaining. However, with the collapse of the USSR these tea farms were often abandoned and slowly left to return to nature.

Our offering is from one such farm - revitalized in 2019 and given almost immediate EU Organic certification, the tea plants were basically left growing amongst bushes, trees, and weeds. This is as "wild" as you can get it! With some minimal pruning, these old bushes still produce a wonderfully comforting cup of tea. Notes of toasted grains, dried fruits, and a hint of sweetness - for us this tea tastes like a piece of toast with strawberry jam!

Feel free to try sweetening this tea with strawberry jam or honey and let us know what you think! (this is Georgian-style tea)

Notes from staff:

If you want to try something outside the usual sphere of Chinese or Asian teas, this is a great choice! Its very hearty, malty, and has a delicious robust taste - like maple syrup on a stack of pancakes, or strawberry jam on toast. There is a relaxing feeling unique to Georgian Teas, and we are very proud to offer this at Old Mountain Tea.

Curious how processing changes a tea? Try it side by side with our "Very Berry" Black Tea, made from the same Kolkhida cultivar on the same farm but oxidized longer for bolder, fruitier notes of raspberry and cherry.