ARIEL Russian Caravan

Russian Caravan is a tea with a story in its name. A smoky, full-bodied black tea blend, it carries the scent of woodsmoke over a smooth, malty base, warming and comforting rather than fierce. It brews to a deep red cup and takes milk beautifully, the kind of tea made for cold mornings and long afternoons.

Tasting Notes

The base is smooth and malty, with an easy richness and a touch of natural sweetness. Over it sits the smoke: gentle and woody rather than sharp, closer to a distant campfire than a bonfire, and noticeably softer than a Lapsang Souchong. There's an earthy depth underneath and a warm, lingering finish. Bold enough to stand up to milk, and a little honey suits it well.

The Caravan Story

The name comes from the old overland tea trade, when chests of Chinese tea travelled to Russia by camel caravan over months of hard road. The story goes that the tea took on the scent of the campfires burning each night along the way, and arrived with a smokiness Russian drinkers came to love. Whether or not the tale is literally true, it named a style: a smoky, malty black tea blend that has been made ever since.

Brewing

Heat fresh water to 95 °C, just off the boil, and steep 2.5 g of leaves (about one teaspoon) for 3 minutes. Take it black to taste the smoke, or add milk for a rounder, softer cup.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Whole leaf black tea
• Formats: 100 g loose leaf, 1 kg loose leaf
• Certifications: Kosher
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation