Gorilla Mountain Black (Rwanda)

2 oz. (25 cups) or 8 oz. (100 cups) This is a tea that expresses both silky smoothness and crispness. Hand-picked in Rwanda's Rukeri Valley and grown at an elevation between 5,500 and 6,500 feet, this tea is rolled in traditional tea rollers using specially selected and seasoned timber tables and battens. Its bright orange color and unique character will particularly appeal to specialty tea lovers. Gorilla Mountain Black is named for Rwanda's famed mountain gorillas. Brewing instructions Amount: 1 teaspoon of loose tea per cup of water Temperature: 212 ̊ (A full, rolling boil) Steep time: 3 minutes About Our Rwandan Tea Rwanda produces only one percent of the world’s tea, but its fertile volcanic soil and temperate climate make it some of the finest. Rwanda’s economy suffered a great deal during the country’s civil conflict in the 1990s, but tea has played a major role in its recovery. Our Rwandan teas are grown in the Rukeri Valley at an elevation of 5,500 to 6,500 feet. The estate from which we import was the first facility in Rwanda to introduce environmentally-friendly policies like waste recycling. It has been at the forefront of banning child labor and supporting workers’ rights and was also the first private company in Rwanda to sign a collective bargaining agreement with its workers. The factory employs sustainable agricultural practices, has an organic section, is a participant in the Ethical Tea Partnership, and the estate is Rainforest Alliance Certified.™ It is also Fair Trade certified, which means premiums and a percentage of the profits are reinvested in the local community.