Çaykur Organic Hemşin Tea – 400 g

This 400 g pack of organic black tea comes from Çaykur, the Turkish state tea company. It is named after Hemşin, a mountain district in the province of Rize, on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, where most of the country's tea is grown.

Tea from the Black Sea mountains

Turkish tea grows on steep, green slopes above the Black Sea, where rain falls often and winters are cold. The cold season means the tea plants rest for several months each year before the spring harvest. Hemşin lies inland from the coast, in the valleys below the Kaçkar mountains, an area known for its forests and highland pastures.

The word organik on the pack tells you the tea is sold as organic. Check the pack for the certification details, origin information and best before date.

What it tastes like

Turkish black tea is usually brewed strong and served in small tulip glasses. It has a deep amber to red colour, a brisk, slightly malty taste and gentle bitterness, without the smoky notes of some Chinese teas or the heavy body of Assam. This organic black tea suits the long, slow brewing that Turkish tea is known for.

The traditional way to brew

The traditional way is a double teapot called a çaydanlık: a large kettle at the bottom and a small pot sitting on top.

1. Fill the lower kettle with water and bring it to the boil.
2. Put two to three tablespoons of tea in the upper pot for four to six glasses.
3. Pour a little boiling water over the leaves, then add more until the pot is about half full.
4. Set the small pot on top of the kettle, lower the heat and let it brew for ten to fifteen minutes.
5. Pour a little of the strong tea into each glass and top up with hot water from the kettle to the strength you like.

Ask for "koyu" if you want it dark and strong, or "açık" if you prefer it light. Serve with sugar cubes on the side.

With an ordinary teapot

You can make a good pot with a normal teapot. Brew a strong concentrate with the leaves, keep it warm on a very low heat or under a tea cosy, and dilute each cup with boiling water from the kettle. Avoid boiling the leaves, which makes the tea bitter.

When to drink it

In Turkey, black tea is served at breakfast, after every meal and whenever guests arrive. It goes with simit, börek and cheese in the morning, and with baklava or biscuits in the afternoon.

Tea is also a social drink. In Turkish homes a glass of tea is usually the first thing offered to a guest. If you are hosting, keep the çaydanlık on a low flame through the evening so fresh tea is always ready, and brew a new pot every hour or so, since tea that sits too long turns bitter.

Storage

Move the tea into an airtight tin or jar once the pack is open, and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard away from spices and coffee. Organic black tea picks up smells and moisture quickly, so a good seal keeps the flavour fresh for longer.

Order Çaykur tea online

Robin Food delivers across the UK, with same-day delivery available in many London areas. Compare this organic black tea with Çaykur Tiryaki Black Tea, Çaykur Tirebolu Tea No.42 and Çaykur Altınbaş Black Tea.