Zimbabwean Black (Five Roses)

Friday is Black Tea, Floral Tea, Fruit Tea, Chai and Pu’erh Review Day!

Black tea is still the most popular kind of tea offered today. From Earl Grey to a nice Ceylon there have been great black teas for generations. More recently. black teas have been produced in less ‘traditional’ settings. In this case, Africa! This Zimbabwean Black from Five Roses looks more like coffee grounds, than tea… but no mistake, this is tea.

I attended a friends wedding in 2008 down in Tennessee. There I met for the first time his entire family. He and I had been close friends online for some time and I was extremely excited to see him. After I returned home, his mother sent me some of the most curious tee I’d ever seen… that tea would be Five Roses’ Zimbabwean Black.

Quixotically, this tea appears as extremely fine black balls much more akin to coffee grounds than tea leaves. Brewing to a very dark brownish-gold with just a tinge of amber at the edges.

The leaves smelled sweet when dry, but the brew gives off an aroma which is slightly sweet with notes similar to an Assam and hits of succulent peach.

The flavor is strong and brisk. This brew has quickly become of of my quintessential morning teas with notes of peaches and just a touch of tart pucker.

With a light pucker, a touch of sweetness but very brisk & brunt this tea has a medium to high boldness which could turn off those who prefer fruitier or more floral teas. This tea will dry your mouth.

One of the odd things about this tea is that the manufacturer doesn’t seem to have a website I’ve been able to track down. Political turmoil in Zimbabwe over the past few years as well as some trade issues could account for not easily finding prices for this tea. I noted prices anywhere from $2.50 + shipping to $60.00 + shipping from reliable sources. I recommend being careful whom you order through with such a variant price range.