That is Georgia, as in the Republic of! This little country is to the East of the Black Sea and south of Russia. Tea has long been a part of their heritage and today there is a thriving community of about 500 small farms that make up the Georgia Handmade Tea Makers Association.
What first struck me when I first received some of the Georgian tea is the size of the leaf and the care in which it had been plucked and handled. Once I infused the teas, I was overwhelmed by the number of complete bud sets in tact.
But the real beauty is the flavor. We named our tea Georgian Cultured Lady in honor of the women that carefully hand produce this tea, and in recognition of the multiple layers of refined tastes this treasure imparts. It is an extremely smooth tea complemented with a pronounced honey like sweetness.
But the surprise to me is the Georgian Caravan. This area has a history of tea and was a part of the Silk Tea Route, so one would expect an offering of a Russian Caravan. But this is more than a mere nod to the past. The smooth sweet tasting tea has just a thin layer of smokey flavor which just adds to the complexity and balance. Once I sipped on this, I could envision the traders relaxing with large mugs of tea after a long day on the roads.
I hope we can continue to get this on a regular basis so that we can continue to share it with you and your friends.
It’s a Big World…Drink it Up!
Chief Leaf