Gurian Orthodox Black Tea
Whole-leaf black tea from Guria's small makers, some of them still rolling by hand and firing over wood.
Gurian orthodox black tea is made from whole leaf by small producers in Guria, western Georgia, where some still wither on wooden racks, roll by hand and halt oxidation over a wood fire. The cup is earthy and fruity.
Sensory profile
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 42 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 17.5 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 | Small Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Whole Leaf |
| Water temperature | 201°F / 94°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf black tea
- 240 g filtered water at 94°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 240 g of water at 94°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 3:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
We list about 42 mg for an 8 oz cup.
A small pot suits it
Whole-leaf Gurian tea needs room to open. Use a small teapot with space for the leaf, and keep the first steep to three minutes.
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.
Gurian orthodox black tea is made from whole leaf by small producers in Guria, western Georgia, where some still wither on wooden racks, roll by hand and halt oxidation over a wood fire. The cup is earthy and fruity. Brewed in a small teapot at 94°C.
Origin & Story
Orthodox means the leaf is rolled whole rather than crushed, and in Guria that is the choice of the small makers who rebuilt Georgian tea after the Soviet years. The Soviet industry was built on machine-picked leaf made in bulk; the new makers pick by hand and work in small batches.
The craft is old-fashioned. One Gurian maker withers the leaf on wooden racks, rolls it in walnut-wood hand curlers, halts the oxidation over a wood fire and sorts the leaf by hand. Another grows high-altitude tea and picks it only three times a year.
Many gardens still grow Chinese-Assam hybrids that Soviet breeders developed for hardiness in cold winters. The leaf grows in the warm, humid valleys of Guria and Adjara, close to the Black Sea.
One Gurian company buys leaf from about 80 local growers and makes nine kinds of tea, a sign of how many small farmers have returned to the crop. The black tea of these makers is described as earthy and fruity, with a medium body.
To brew it, warm a small teapot, add 3 g of leaf for a 240 ml cup, pour on water at about 94°C and steep for three to four minutes.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 64/100 |
| Acidity | 52/100 |
| Bitterness | 34/100 |
| Body | 62/100 |
| Aroma | 78/100 |
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 Gurian Orthodox Black Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 42 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Gurian Orthodox Black Tea?
Target 94°C (201°F).
How long should Gurian Orthodox Black Tea be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-4:00. Method: Small Teapot. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter. Grind or leaf format: Whole Leaf.
What does orthodox mean in Georgian tea?
It means the leaf is rolled whole or in large pieces, not crushed into pellets as in CTC. In Guria it is the method of the small artisan makers.
Are Georgian tea bushes Chinese or Assam type?
Many are Chinese-Assam hybrids bred in the Soviet period for hardiness in cold winters, grown in the warm valleys of Guria and Adjara.
Who should avoid Gurian Orthodox 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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