Sabah Tea Sdn Bhd

Another victim of my 100% discount during a visit to my friend's house. I came away with a handful of these mysterious green sachets with no idea what they were, other than a black tea from a place I knew little about. It turns out this little "confiscation" led me to learn some interesting details about this one-of-a-kind tea.

This is Sabah Tea, and it’s not just any black tea. It’s grown on a single, massive 6,200-acre estate at the foot of Mount Kinabalu in the heart of a 130-million-year-old Borneo rainforest. Because the ancient ecosystem naturally handles any pests, no pesticides are ever used. What you get in the cup is a pure, unadulterated taste of a unique terroir.

Right away, I’ll say this brew isn't for everyone. It has a deeply earthy, forest-like quality that is more botanical than any black tea I have ever tried. The moment I first tasted it, my mind immediately jumped to the flavour of unflavoured black grass jelly. They share that same distinct herbal/botanical character and a subtle, clean bitterness that blends perfectly into the earthy foundation. It’s an experience for sure, and a world away from the familiar profiles of more popular black teas.

This is where the rating gets tricky. The quality is undeniably high. You can taste the purity that comes from its single-origin ecosystem. I personally don't mind the flavour profile, but it’s definitely not a mainstream taste. It’s a cool, intellectual experience, but it’s not the kind of tea that makes me sit up and think, "I need a cup of that Sabah tea right now."

I would recommend trying for the experience, but the taste is an acquired one. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.