Peace, Love, and Pure Leaf Premium Loose Tea for the Free-Spirited Soul
All tea varieties come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. This evergreen shrub, native to Southeast Asia, grows well in subtropical and highland tropical regions. The leaves, buds and sometimes stems are harvested and processed in different ways to create various types of tea, including black, oolong, green, white, purple and orthodox.
Many herbal drinks, like chamomile and peppermint, are often called “tea,” but technically, only beverages made from Camellia sinensis are true tea. To differentiate them, herbal blends are commonly referred to as herbal infusions or tisanes (pronounced TEE-san). Tea is incredibly popular, especially in the U.S, where people consume over 50 billion servings each year—85% of it as iced tea.
Tea contains caffeine and compounds like catechins and theanine, which can have calming yet alertness-boosting effects. It has a rich cultural history, particularly in China, Japan, India, and Britain
HISTORY OF TEA
The story of tea begins in ancient China. According to legend, Emperor Shen Nong, a scholar and herbalist, discovered tea by accident in 2737 BCE. As the story goes, he was boiling water when some tea leaves from a nearby plant fell into his pot. Intrigued by the pleasant aroma and taste, he began to study tea’s medicinal properties.
Tea became a popular drink among the Chinese elite, and by the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), it was a staple of Chinese culture. Tea was introduced 1903 Kenya in Highlands by British settlers , and commercial production started through small farmers in 1950s. In 1963, the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) was established to support small-scale farmers.
By the 1970s, Kenya became a leading global tea producer. Today, Kenya is among the largest tea exporters, known for high-quality black, green, and specialty teas. The Mombasa Tea Auction plays a key role in global pricing, and the industry continues to innovate with sustainable practices
Pioneering excellence
1.Star Tea is nestled in the highlands of Kenya, where the air is crisp, and the soil is rich. The lush tea gardens that produce some of the world’s finest black teas lie there.
2.Tea is more than just a drink it’s a way of life, a symbol of hospitality, and a tradition passed down through generations.
3.My family was among the first pioneers in commercial tea farming in the 1950s. We have consistently worked with other smallholder farmers year after year, never compromising on our diligence and guided by our shared goals in quality tea production. We view our tea growers as a natural extension of the Star Tea family. Every production is inspected repeatedly during the journey from being plucked to your cup – a process overseen by the tea growers; management company (KTDA).
4.Nothing leaves the tasting room until it is proven to be an extraordinary cup of tea destined to inspire worldwide tea lovers. We have various teas: Black CTC Tea, Green Orthodox Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea and Specialty Teas (Purple and White Tea).