MIST OF MALAWI | Zomba Plateau White Tea

A fantastic, almost absurdly weird, hand-rolled white tea from the highlands of Malawi.  Notes of fig compote, dates, African hardwood and hints of flowers.

Origin:  Thyolo, Malawi

GPS:  16°S 35.1°E.

Handcrafting:  handrolling (1 bud and up to 3 leaves), sun-drying... if and when the weather allows.

Brewing Suggestions:  5g tea / 110g water @90°C, 20" (gong fu style)

We owe our first tea exploration of Malawi's highlands to our friend Wouter, who kindly gifted us a wide assortment of tea.  This tea stood out because it's tasting notes are unlike any 'white' tea that our team has ever tried:  florals are there, but the texture is reminiscent of lower HImalayan black tea leaves.  The tea is delicious when brewed gong fu style.  We can't wait to try it as a cold brew next summer.

Malawi - A Fascinating Tea Origin 

Tucked away in southeastern Africa, Malawi remains a quietly compelling—and still largely undiscovered—tea origin. Tea was first introduced, likely from India, in the early 20th century, taking root in the mist-covered highlands around Thyolo and Mulanje. These dramatic, fertile landscapes are home to some of the oldest tea gardens in Africa, shaped by cool temperatures, abundant rainfall, and generations of careful cultivation.

For much of its history, Malawian tea flowed anonymously into the global market as a relatively inexpensive component of blends. In recent decades, however, a small number of visionary producers have begun to change that narrative. Chief among them is the Kay family of Satemwa Tea Estate, founded in 1923 and still family-owned today. At the turn of the 21st century, Satemwa embarked on a bold new path—hand-crafting green, white, oolong, and dark teas alongside exceptional orthodox black teas, each expressing Malawi’s distinctive terroir. This pursuit of quality has gone hand in hand with a deep commitment to supporting smallholder growers and improving livelihoods in surrounding communities.