Tanzania Mufindi Black Tea
Brisk, bright and malty: black tea from the cool Southern Highlands of Tanzania.
Mufindi is a tea district in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, one of the coolest and rainiest parts of the country. Its black tea is brisk and malty, with a bright amber cup. Brewed in a teapot at 95°C.
Sensory profile
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 52 mg in one serving (6–8 oz cup (180–240 ml)), a concentration of 24.8 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:72 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 210g |
| Grind size | Whole or Broken Leaf |
| Water temperature | 203°F / 95°C |
| Target brew time | 2:30-3:30 |
| Serving | 6–8 oz cup (180–240 ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf black tea
- 210 g filtered water at 95°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 2.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 210 g of water at 95°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 3:20Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
How strong is it?
We list about 52 mg for a 6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) cup, made with 2.5 to 3 g of leaf per 200 ml.
Match the leaf to the clock
Broken and CTC leaf gives up its strength quickly. If your Mufindi is a small-leaf grade, stay near the shorter end of the steep.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Mufindi is a tea district in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, one of the coolest and rainiest parts of the country. Its black tea is brisk and malty, with a bright amber cup. Brewed in a teapot at 95°C.
Origin & Story
Mufindi District lies in the Iringa Region of Tanzania's Southern Highlands. It has one of the coolest and rainiest climates in the country, and it is known for two crops, tea and timber. Its tea estates, among them Maganga, spread across the hills.
Tea came with the colonial era. German settlers first grew it in Tanzania in 1902, on a small scale, and British companies began commercial planting in the 1920s. After independence nationalization damaged the industry, and privatization later helped it recover. On well-run Mufindi estates the yield of made tea rose from about 600 kilograms per hectare in the late 1950s to about 3,000 in a research paper on Tanzanian tea.
Tea grows in three areas of Tanzania: the Southern Highlands around Njombe and Mufindi, the East Usambara hills near the coast, and the northwest, on the southern shore of Lake Victoria. Only about 22,000 hectares are planted in the whole country, around a tenth of Kenya's, because much of Tanzania is too dry for tea. Estates in the Southern Highlands sit at roughly 1,700 to 2,200 meters.
Most Tanzanian tea is CTC, used to add strength to teabag blends for the UK, Europe and Pakistan, although some whole-leaf lots are made too. For a cup, pour water at about 95°C over 3 g of leaf in 240 ml, let it steep for two and a half to three and a half minutes in a teapot, and taste it before you reach for milk or sugar.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 65/100 |
| Acidity | 60/100 |
| Bitterness | 45/100 |
| Body | 65/100 |
| Aroma | 75/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Tanzania Mufindi Black Tea?
One serving, 6–8 oz cup (180–240 ml), contains approximately 52 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Tanzania Mufindi Black Tea?
Target 95°C (203°F).
How long should Tanzania Mufindi Black Tea be extracted?
Timing: 2:30-3:30. Method: Teapot. Ratio: 2.5–3g per 200ml water. Grind or leaf format: Whole or Broken Leaf.
Where is Mufindi?
In the Iringa Region of Tanzania's Southern Highlands. The district is mountainous, cool and rainy, and known for tea and timber.
How high is Mufindi tea grown?
Tea in the Southern Highlands around Mufindi and Njombe grows at roughly 1,700 to 2,200 meters, depending on the estate.
Who should avoid Tanzania Mufindi Black Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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