MALAWI FERMENTED TEA
FERMENTED TEA FROM MALAWI
DARK (FERMENTED) TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Satemwa, Thyolo, Malawi, Africa
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea from Satemwa Tea Estate is an unusual aged tea inspired by dark tea fermentation and long-term maturation techniques. Produced in 2018 and carefully aged over the years, the tea developed a smooth, layered profile with deep woody and fruity complexity. The infusion is rich and calming, offering notes of dried fruit, warm earth, sweet wood, and a soft, lingering finish. MORE
AROMA
Woody, earthy, tobacco
TASTE
Woody, nutty
CULTIVAR: Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica
HARVEST: Spring, 2018
DARK (FERMENTED) TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Satemwa, Thyolo, Malawi, Africa
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea from Satemwa Tea Estate is an unusual aged tea inspired by dark tea fermentation and long-term maturation techniques. Produced in 2018 and carefully aged over the years, the tea developed a smooth, layered profile with deep woody and fruity complexity. The infusion is rich and calming, offering notes of dried fruit, warm earth, sweet wood, and a soft, lingering finish. MORE
AROMA
Woody, earthy, tobacco
TASTE
Woody, nutty
CULTIVAR: Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica
HARVEST: Spring, 2018
FERMENTED TEA is a unique category of post-fermented tea distinguished by its microbial fermentation and aging processes. Through the combined action of microorganisms, oxidation, and time, this type of tea develops a rich concentration of bioactive compounds, minerals, amino acids, and complex aromatic substances that contribute to both its distinctive character and traditionally valued properties.
Unlike other tea categories, Fermented Tea continues to evolve after production, gradually developing deeper flavors, smoother textures, and greater complexity during storage and aging. It is believed that regular consumption of Fermented Tea may support digestive health, contribute to healthy cholesterol metabolism, promote the balance of beneficial intestinal microflora, and assist the body's natural antioxidant defenses. Traditionally, dark tea has also been appreciated for its warming nature, its ability to aid digestion after rich meals, reduce feelings of heaviness, support overall vitality, and create a calm, grounding, and balanced state of mind.
Unlike other tea categories, Fermented Tea continues to evolve after production, gradually developing deeper flavors, smoother textures, and greater complexity during storage and aging. It is believed that regular consumption of Fermented Tea may support digestive health, contribute to healthy cholesterol metabolism, promote the balance of beneficial intestinal microflora, and assist the body's natural antioxidant defenses. Traditionally, dark tea has also been appreciated for its warming nature, its ability to aid digestion after rich meals, reduce feelings of heaviness, support overall vitality, and create a calm, grounding, and balanced state of mind.
Learn more about the BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
SEED-GROWN TEA PLANT
This tea refers to a Qunzi Zhong, a "seed-grown tea plant". Unlike cloned or asexually propagated cultivars, which are created by cuttings or grafting from a single "mother" plant, Qunzi Zhong tea trees are grown from seeds. This results in a genetically diverse population of plants. Each seed-grown tea tree is unique, with slightly different characteristics. This genetic variety helps improve the resilience of the tea garden, making it more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Seed-grown trees usually develop stronger and deeper roots than cloned plants, allowing them to draw nutrients and minerals from deeper soil layers, often giving the tea a more complex and rich flavor profile. Qunzi Zhong represents the traditional way of tea cultivation. Because of the genetic diversity, teas made from Qunzi Zhong plants tend to offer more layered and nuanced flavors, reflecting a richer expression of the local terroir (soil, climate, and environment).
PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Pesticide-free gardening refers to a cultivation method in which no synthetic chemical pesticides are used at any stage of plant growth. Instead, this approach relies on biodiversity, ecological balance, and cultural practices to manage pests and diseases. Unlike conventional farming, which often depends on chemical intervention to control infestations, pesticide-free gardening emphasizes prevention through healthy soil, companion planting, and natural predators. This method fosters a more resilient and adaptive garden ecosystem. Without chemical inputs, beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and native bees thrive, contributing to pollination and pest control. Untouched by harsh agents, the soil remains alive with microbial activity, supporting deeper root systems and more vigorous plant development. Over time, this results in produce with purer, more expressive flavors, reflecting the health of the environment and the grower's intention.
Learn more about Pesticide-Free Gardening
EASTERN (PIN CHA) ★
Temperature: 100 °C
Amount: 3-5 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 10-30 sec x 7
WESTERN (INFUSION)
Temperature: 100 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 3
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture. This type of tea oxidizes when it comes into contact with oxygen and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*Suitable for long-term aging. Under proper storage conditions, the tea may gradually develop increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*Suitable for long-term aging. Under proper storage conditions, the tea may gradually develop increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
ABOUT
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea from Satemwa Tea Estate is an experimental aged tea created by adapting Yunnan Pu'Er processing technology to local African tea material and environmental conditions. The tea is produced from leaves harvested from organically managed plantations more than 50 years old, where mature tea plants develop strong structure and balanced aromatic potential. This combination of old plantation material and unconventional processing created a distinctive tea with its own identity and aging character.
The production was inspired by traditional dark tea and Pu'Er fermentation methods, but carefully adjusted to suit the character of Satemwa’s local cultivars and climate. Through controlled fermentation and maturation, the tea gradually developed deeper woody, fruity, and earthy nuances while maintaining clarity and balance. The approach represents a rare example of cross-cultural tea craftsmanship, where Chinese aging philosophy is reinterpreted through African terroir.
Harvested in 2018, the tea has since undergone years of natural storage, during which the profile evolved into a smoother and more integrated expression. Over time, the flavors became softer, rounder, and more harmonious, revealing increasing depth and atmospheric complexity. Today, the tea represents a unique intersection between African tea production and traditional aged tea philosophy.
Satemwa is a family-owned estate, located in Malawi in the southern part of Africa. This place is the motherland of the first commercially grown tea in Africa since 1878. This particular tea comes from a family, who has produced tea since 1923. Knowledge passed from generation to generation, inspired by eastern tea cultures, adapted to local conditions, and refined to perfection, this tea farm offers a wide variety of different styles of high-quality teas. Tea plantations producing this unique artisanal lineup are more than 50 years old. All these plantations are 100% organic and all of the teas are handmade.
TERROIR
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea originates from Satemwa Tea Estate in Malawi, one of the oldest and most respected tea estates in Africa. The estate is located in the Shire Highlands at elevations reaching approximately 1000–1200 meters, where a combination of warm daytime temperatures, cool nights, abundant rainfall, and fertile soils creates favorable conditions for balanced tea cultivation. These environmental factors contribute to the development of leaves with both structural strength and aromatic clarity.
The tea is produced from organically managed plantations more than 50 years old, where mature tea bushes develop deep root systems and stable nutrient absorption. The mineral-rich soils and relatively untouched growing conditions support a clean and expressive raw material suitable for fermentation and long-term aging. The age of the plantations also contributes to greater depth and concentration within the leaf structure.
The terroir of Satemwa emphasizes warmth, smoothness, and natural sweetness, while retaining freshness and balance uncommon in many fermented teas. Combined with Pu'Er-inspired processing and natural aging, the local environment creates a tea with a distinctive profile where African terroir and dark tea maturation philosophy merge into a unique expression.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf appearance is dark and slightly twisted, with deep brown and black tones reflecting both fermentation and years of natural aging. The aroma of the dry tea is rich and unusual, combining notes of dried fruit, warm earth, cocoa, sweet wood, and subtle tropical nuances characteristic of African tea material. In a preheated teapot, the tea gradually opens, and the aroma becomes deeper and softer, revealing baked fruit, humid forest wood, dates, dark honey, and delicate mineral-earthy undertones. After a brief rinse, the leaves fully awaken, and the aroma gains smooth integration, where woody sweetness, fruity depth, and gentle fermentation notes merge harmoniously.
The aroma of the liquor in the empty cup is dense and warming, with pronounced sweet woody tones and dried fruit character. The taste is smooth and rounded, with a medium-to-full body and a mellow texture developed through years of aging. From the first sips, notes of dried dates, cocoa, warm earth, dark honey, and sweet wood emerge, supported by soft mineral undertones and almost no bitterness or sharpness. The profile remains calm and stable across multiple infusions, gradually revealing deeper fruity and earthy nuances. The aftertaste is long, warming, and comforting, leaving lingering sweetness with subtle woody-mineral sensations in the throat. In the empty cup after drinking, rich aromas of dried fruit, cocoa, humid wood, and soft earthy sweetness remain for a long time.
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea from Satemwa Tea Estate is an experimental aged tea created by adapting Yunnan Pu'Er processing technology to local African tea material and environmental conditions. The tea is produced from leaves harvested from organically managed plantations more than 50 years old, where mature tea plants develop strong structure and balanced aromatic potential. This combination of old plantation material and unconventional processing created a distinctive tea with its own identity and aging character.
The production was inspired by traditional dark tea and Pu'Er fermentation methods, but carefully adjusted to suit the character of Satemwa’s local cultivars and climate. Through controlled fermentation and maturation, the tea gradually developed deeper woody, fruity, and earthy nuances while maintaining clarity and balance. The approach represents a rare example of cross-cultural tea craftsmanship, where Chinese aging philosophy is reinterpreted through African terroir.
Harvested in 2018, the tea has since undergone years of natural storage, during which the profile evolved into a smoother and more integrated expression. Over time, the flavors became softer, rounder, and more harmonious, revealing increasing depth and atmospheric complexity. Today, the tea represents a unique intersection between African tea production and traditional aged tea philosophy.
Satemwa is a family-owned estate, located in Malawi in the southern part of Africa. This place is the motherland of the first commercially grown tea in Africa since 1878. This particular tea comes from a family, who has produced tea since 1923. Knowledge passed from generation to generation, inspired by eastern tea cultures, adapted to local conditions, and refined to perfection, this tea farm offers a wide variety of different styles of high-quality teas. Tea plantations producing this unique artisanal lineup are more than 50 years old. All these plantations are 100% organic and all of the teas are handmade.
TERROIR
2018 Malawi Fermented Tea originates from Satemwa Tea Estate in Malawi, one of the oldest and most respected tea estates in Africa. The estate is located in the Shire Highlands at elevations reaching approximately 1000–1200 meters, where a combination of warm daytime temperatures, cool nights, abundant rainfall, and fertile soils creates favorable conditions for balanced tea cultivation. These environmental factors contribute to the development of leaves with both structural strength and aromatic clarity.
The tea is produced from organically managed plantations more than 50 years old, where mature tea bushes develop deep root systems and stable nutrient absorption. The mineral-rich soils and relatively untouched growing conditions support a clean and expressive raw material suitable for fermentation and long-term aging. The age of the plantations also contributes to greater depth and concentration within the leaf structure.
The terroir of Satemwa emphasizes warmth, smoothness, and natural sweetness, while retaining freshness and balance uncommon in many fermented teas. Combined with Pu'Er-inspired processing and natural aging, the local environment creates a tea with a distinctive profile where African terroir and dark tea maturation philosophy merge into a unique expression.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf appearance is dark and slightly twisted, with deep brown and black tones reflecting both fermentation and years of natural aging. The aroma of the dry tea is rich and unusual, combining notes of dried fruit, warm earth, cocoa, sweet wood, and subtle tropical nuances characteristic of African tea material. In a preheated teapot, the tea gradually opens, and the aroma becomes deeper and softer, revealing baked fruit, humid forest wood, dates, dark honey, and delicate mineral-earthy undertones. After a brief rinse, the leaves fully awaken, and the aroma gains smooth integration, where woody sweetness, fruity depth, and gentle fermentation notes merge harmoniously.
The aroma of the liquor in the empty cup is dense and warming, with pronounced sweet woody tones and dried fruit character. The taste is smooth and rounded, with a medium-to-full body and a mellow texture developed through years of aging. From the first sips, notes of dried dates, cocoa, warm earth, dark honey, and sweet wood emerge, supported by soft mineral undertones and almost no bitterness or sharpness. The profile remains calm and stable across multiple infusions, gradually revealing deeper fruity and earthy nuances. The aftertaste is long, warming, and comforting, leaving lingering sweetness with subtle woody-mineral sensations in the throat. In the empty cup after drinking, rich aromas of dried fruit, cocoa, humid wood, and soft earthy sweetness remain for a long time.
HEI CHA (DARK TEA)
Explore more Hei Cha (Dark Tea) from the AN SHIM TEA Collection.