Already in the last episode you might have learned that Kenya is one of the largest tea producers in the world. Let's now take a look behind the walls of the tea factories where the fascinating transformation from green tea leaves to the form of tea we know in Europe takes place.
Most Kenyan produce is processed as regular black tea into bags, which we all know. Even though the tickets are torn by hand, factories operate to a large extent automatically and can ferment, dry and sort tens of tons of tea a day.
The method used for processing is called CTC - crush, tear and curl. The tea, after partial drying, is crushed, torn and rolled into small pellets. By crushing the fermentation process gets fully started, when the green leaves gradually darken and get a typical color and full taste. After drying, the tea is then automatically sorted by particle size. The biggest ones are sold as the finest, fine dust to the cheapest tea bags.
Fortunately, even in Kenya, they gradually learn to process tea in a more gentle way, preserving its distinctive taste and sell it at higher prices on the market. Some factories have been partially equipped for the so-called orthodox processing, which is still fully machine-operated, but the tickets are not crushed or torn. The fermentation process is initiated only by rolling them. The resulting product is then used only in top quality tea bags and loose tea.
If the leaves are dried immediately after the roll-up, the fermentation does not take place at all, and so is the green tea traditionally known mainly from China, Japan and Vietnam. Farmers and processors get even more money for hand-made tea, where the whole leaves can be preserved. Whether it is so-called tip (mostly white) tea, where only the youngest tea leaves are used, or a very good green or black tea.
But it all depends on demand, so if you want to support a farmer in Africa, you can do so by buying a well-made tea instead of cheap bags. Perhaps it will have a much greater effect over the long term than a one-time contribution to a development organization working in the region.
The capital of Kenya, Nairobi, boasts several unique features. The most interesting one for any visitor certainly is the national park of the same name. About 7 kilometers from the city center, over 100 square kilometers, you have the chance to see lions, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, zebras, ostriches or antelopes.
Kilimanjaro is the highest one. But it is said that Mount Kenya is definitely the nicest. I haven't been to "Killi" yet, but I will remember hitting and views of Mount Kenya for the rest of my life and I will be happy to come back. Just because of the glaciers less than 20 kilometers from the equator.
One of the most beautiful and perhaps the most surprising places you can visit in Kenya is the Mount Kenya National Park. You can come for a day and watch wild elephants, buffaloes or monkeys in the magnificent mountain forest, or try to conquer the Lenan peak rising to nearly 5000 meters, without need of any special climbing methods.
I flew to Africa for the first time. I did not expect anything from it. So Kenya could only surprise me. This choice was basically a coincidence. Within a month, I fell in love with her. I got a lot of new friends, experienced the beauty of wildlife, enjoyed the real adventure on a motorbike and strolled up to 5000 meters for an unforgettable sunrise. At least part of the experiences will share with you in the new series.
Leaving out Lake Naivasha during a visit to Kenya would be a sin. Unlike other national parks, you do not pay for entry, but you can almost certain that you will see hippos, plenty of waterfowl and probably buffaloes or giraffes in the immediate vicinity.
Kenya is one of the largest tea exporters in the world thanks to the British. The local mountains provide the ideal climate for its cultivation; Of course, as a tea lover, I couldn't visit the biggest tea area around Mt. Kenya before I left.
Shallow Lake Bogoria is about 50 km from Nakuru, Kenya. It lies in a deep valley surrounded by mountains, offering wonderful views. Especially here you will see a lot of waterbirds, including huge flocks of flamingos.
The first place I headed from the capital was Mount Longonot National Park. The 2 780-meter high volcano with an almost perfect crater offers a wonderful trek and the opportunity to see close enough wild animals. I set off right after sunrise and I did not regret it.
Another of the parks where I couldn't resist in Kenya and went wild, was relatively small Hell’s Gate in the immediate vicinity of Lake Naivasha. There are several canyons and lots of animals all year round. I was lucky to meet giraffes and dozens of buffaloes from a few meters away.
Nairobi ("a place where cold water is available") belongs to one of greatest towns in Africa. The British citadel, where the town was established (in the altitude of nearly 2000 metres above sea level), protected one of the first railway line (Mombasa-Victoria Lake) of the continent.