Kenya is a major producer of tea in the world and in this case, a major producer of tea as a beverage.
However, the country has also stood out in the production of another special type of tea, which is more of a medicinal drink, than a beverage.
Purple tea is a unique type of tea, grown majorly in Kenya, in the Central region, specifically in Meru county.
At first, it used to be produced in China and some parts of Brazil, but production has now entirely shifted to Kenya.
The tea is only grown at an altitude of between 4,500 and 7,500 feet above sea level, which is the one factor that makes it very rare, but also adaptable in Meru.
It originated from the same plant that produces black tea and green tea, but its purple appearance is caused by a unique genetic mutation which produces antioxidant called anthocyanin.
Anthocyanin is the same powerful antioxidant found in blueberries, but the percentage found in purple tea is higher compared to that in blueberries.
In an interview with Kenyans.co.ke, a purple tea expert from Meru revealed that unlike the other types of tea, this is majorly for medicinal purposes.
“Purple tea is not the kind that you wake up and take it for breakfast in the morning, take it at 11 and in the evening. This one is like a herb,” Janet Makena, a purple tea farmer from Meru stated.
Health Benefits
1. What is so fascinating about this tea is the health benefits it has. It combines all the benefits of black tea, green tea and all the other types, giving it a unique health benefit.
2. Another special property of purple tea is that it has a special type of polyphenol, an enzyme that breaks down fats, so that the body can easily digest them.
3. This tea is also a shield against cardiovascular diseases, which affects blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, heart muscle, arms and legs.
4. It also has an oxidant, which science has proven that it significantly boosts brain antioxidant capacity.
5. Besides that, it has other benefits which include anti-cancer, improving vision, and aid in cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism.
Kenya mainly exports purple tea to the Asians counties. The tea expert further divulged how many people are yet to discover this magic, but once they do, production in Kenya will ramp up.
“Right now, the farmers in Meru have dominated the market. However, people in Kericho have started embracing it, and soon production is going to be high,” Makena stated.
Notably, Makena mentioned that the market uptake is still low, especially since many Kenyans do not consume the tea.
