Georgia Old Lady Black Tea

A most unusual hand processed tea with a sweet citrus taste.

The bulk of Georgia's teas during the Soviet era were sent to Russia with the local populace having to find 'creative' solutions to get their tea fix. While the tea producing factories were locked, the tea fields were open and unprotected. This resulted in the local villagers 'stealing' tea leaves to take home and manually process them by hand (as they had no equipment or machinery nor access to). Just like in China, each village would come up with it's own methods and styles of tea processing which would be passed down the generations.

Natela Gujabidze of Nagobilevi village, is a great example of this unique Georgian practice. Natela's mother in law taught her how to hand process the tea leaves Natela 'borrowed' from the state-run tea farm she worked on. After decades of honing her skill, Natela now guides her fellow Nagobilevi villagers in the art of hand-made teas.

It is my pleasure to offer 'Old Lady', which is our second offering from Natela.

Tasting Notes:
- Smooth texture
- Sweet citrus taste

Harvest: Summer 2017
Origin: Natela's Garden, Nagobilevi Village, Guria, Georgia
Farmer: Natela Gujabidze
Sourced: UK wholesaler specialising in Georgian teas

Brewing Advice:
- Heat water to roughly 90°C/194°F
- Use 2 teaspoon per cup/small teapot
- Brew for 4 minutes

Packaging: Resealable ziplock bag

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