COLOMBIA BITACO BLACK RUBY BLACK TEA

This high quality tea, known as Black Ruby, grows on La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca, situated in tropical western Colombia. The garden, found at 2050 metres above sea level, near Bitaco, offers ideal growing conditions to produce distinctive, slightly sweet teas. This variety is a small tightly twisted leaf which offers notes of cocoa, honey, sweet raisins and plum. The garden is reached by narrow, winding, dirt roads that lead to a subtropical cloud forest. The farm is entirely organic and each lot is bordered by wild forest, and great bio-diversity. Natural methods are used to help keep the plants healthy, huge citronella hedges offer a natural insect repellent. They make natural fertilizer and compost from chicken manure, sugarcane, etc. Although they are blessed with rich volcanic soil, managing the challenges of truly organic cultivation and keeping the farm productive is a big challenge. Nevertheless, they are producing not just eco-friendly teas but teas of a quality to rival some of the world's finest black teas whilst offering a unique flavour profile.