Purple Tea Guide: What Is Purple Tea, Benefits & Brewing
Purple tea is generating buzz among tea lovers! So, what is purple tea? It’s a rare variety grown high in the mountains of Kenya, often called Kenyan purple tea, and its leaves naturally develop a beautiful violet tint. Beyond the colour, the real excitement comes from its science, packed with anthocyanins (just like in blueberries!), it boasts impressive purple tea antioxidant properties that set it apart from green or black tea.
Many tea drinkers are also discovering unique purple tea benefits, from supporting metabolism to promoting overall wellness. And if you are wondering about the energy lift, let’s look at the purple tea caffeine content and how it compares to your daily cuppa. Plus, if you’re curious to taste it for yourself, I’ll share exactly how to brew purple tea so you can enjoy both its flavour and its health perks in the comfort of your own home.
Continue reading about the different kinds of tea 👉 a guide to the types of tea
What Is Purple Tea?
Purple tea is a rare and fascinating variety of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant used to make green, black, white, and oolong teas. What makes it different is its striking violet-tinted leaves, the result of a natural genetic mutation. These leaves are rich in anthocyanins, the same antioxidants that give blueberries, grapes, and other colourful plants their deep hues.
The high levels of anthocyanins are what set purple tea apart, offering powerful purple tea antioxidant properties that may support heart health, reduce inflammation, and protect against cell damage. Thanks to its gentle, minimal processing, purple tea retains more of these natural compounds compared to many other teas.
In terms of taste, purple tea benefits extend to the cup itself, it has a smooth, earthy flavour with a subtle sweetness, enjoyable both hot or iced. While Kenyan purple tea is the most famous (Kenya is the leading producer), smaller crops are also grown in other regions. For those curious about health, flavour, and sustainability, purple tea is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about teas worldwide.
Why Is Purple Tea Purple?
The beautiful hue of purple tea comes directly from its leaves, which naturally develop a violet tint thanks to high levels of anthocyanins. These are the same flavonoid pigments that give blueberries, grapes, and red cabbage their deep purple, red, or blue colours. In purple tea, anthocyanins are especially concentrated, making it both visually striking and nutritionally powerful.
Unlike green tea, which is carefully processed to preserve its green colour and grassy flavour, purple tea leaves are minimally handled. After harvest, they’re gently withered and dried, helping to lock in the anthocyanins and maintain their distinctive purple shade.
The variety most often used to produce Kenyan purple tea is Camellia sinensis var. sinensis ‘Zi Juan’. This cultivar was selectively bred for its unusually high anthocyanin content. These pigments not only create the tea’s signature colour but also provide many of the well-known purple tea benefits, such as antioxidant support, anti-inflammatory effects, and potential protection against cellular damage.
History and Origins of Purple Tea
Purple tea is a relatively new addition to the world of tea, first introduced in Kenya in the early 2000s. It was developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), a government agency dedicated to agricultural innovation. Researchers discovered a natural genetic mutation in some tea plants grown in Kenya’s high-altitude regions. This mutation caused the leaves to turn a distinctive purple shade and produce unusually high levels of anthocyanins, the powerful antioxidants behind purple tea’s health benefits.
Seeing its potential, KALRO refined cultivation and processing methods to enhance the concentration of anthocyanins in the leaves. The result was Kenyan purple tea, a tea with a unique colour, smooth flavour, and wellness properties that set it apart from green, black, oolong, and white teas.
Today, Kenya remains the world’s leading producer of purple tea, exporting it to health-conscious markets across the globe. Smaller-scale production has also begun in countries including India and China, but Kenyan purple tea remains the most established and sought-after variety. Though still relatively new, purple tea continues to gain recognition among tea enthusiasts for its combination of striking appearance, distinctive taste, and antioxidant-rich profile.
Growing, Harvesting, and Processing Purple Tea
Like other teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, purple tea requires careful cultivation and processing to bring out its distinctive flavour and health properties. What makes it unique is the lighter, less intensive processing compared to black or oolong tea, helping to preserve its rich anthocyanin antioxidants. Here’s how Kenyan purple tea is typically grown and prepared:
🌿 Cultivation: Purple tea thrives in high-altitude regions of Kenya, where abundant sunlight and cooler temperatures encourage high anthocyanin levels in the leaves. The plants prefer well-drained soil and consistent rainfall or irrigation to remain healthy and productive.
🌿 Harvesting: Skilled tea pickers pluck the youngest shoots, usually the top two leaves and a bud, by hand, often in the morning when the leaves are freshest. These tender leaves contain the highest concentration of antioxidants and flavour compounds.
🌿 Withering: Fresh leaves are spread out on large trays and left to wither for several hours. This reduces moisture, making the leaves pliable and easier to shape during later processing.
🌿 Rolling: Withered leaves are gently rolled, either by hand or machine, to break down cell walls and release natural juices. Rolling also shapes the leaves and helps define the final flavour profile.
🌿 Oxidation: Rolled leaves are left to oxidize for a controlled period. Exposure to oxygen deepens the colour and taste, though purple tea is usually only lightly oxidized compared to black tea, preserving more of its natural antioxidants.
🌿 Drying: Once the desired oxidation level is reached, the leaves are dried with hot air or under the sun. Drying halts oxidation and locks in the tea’s flavour, colour, and health properties.
🌿 Sorting and Packaging: Finally, dried leaves are graded by size and quality, then carefully packaged for shipment around the world.
What Are the Different Types of Purple Tea?
One of the fascinating things about purple tea is that it can be processed in several ways, creating distinct flavours and styles. Depending on how the leaves are handled after harvest, purple tea can resemble green tea, black tea, or oolong tea, and even be ground into a vibrant purple matcha. Each type offers its own flavour profile and set of purple tea benefits.
💜 Purple tea with green tea characteristics: Processed with minimal oxidation, this type of purple tea is closest to green tea. It produces a light, refreshing cup with grassy, earthy notes and a subtle sweetness. The liquor often has a pale green hue, and thanks to gentle processing, it retains high levels of purple tea antioxidant properties.
💜 Purple tea with black tea characteristics: When purple tea leaves are more heavily oxidized, they take on qualities similar to black tea. Expect a deeper colour and a richer, more complex flavour, often with hints of caramel, chocolate, or dried fruit. This style is sometimes served as a milk tea, pairing well with cream and sugar.
💜 Purple tea with oolong tea characteristics: Semi-oxidized purple tea falls between green and black tea. It offers a floral, fruity aroma and a smooth, buttery finish. This makes it a great option for tea drinkers who enjoy oolong’s balanced flavour but want the added health benefits of Kenyan purple tea.
💜 Purple matcha: Made by finely grinding purple tea leaves into a powder, purple matcha is prepared similarly to traditional Japanese matcha. It delivers a rich, umami flavour and is often paired with sweets or savoury snacks. Its vibrant green-purple tone and concentrated antioxidants make it especially appealing to health-conscious tea lovers.
Purple Tea vs Green Tea: What’s the Difference?
Both purple tea and green tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but their processing, appearance, and health properties set them apart. Here are the key differences between purple tea vs green tea:
Purple Tea vs Green Tea
| Spec | Purple Tea | Green Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Violet-tinted leaves; brew can show a very pale lilac/pink hue. | Bright green leaves; light yellow-green liquor. |
| Processing | Minimally processed (withered, gently dried) to preserve anthocyanins. | Steamed or pan-fired to halt oxidation and retain green colour. |
| Caffeine | Purple tea caffeine content is generally moderate to lower than many green teas. | Typically moderate; varies by cultivar and style. |
| Key Antioxidants | Purple tea antioxidant properties from anthocyanins + catechins. | Catechins (e.g., EGCG) dominate. |
| Flavour | Smooth, slightly sweet, subtle floral/earthy notes. | Grassy, vegetal; can be astringent if over-brewed. |
| Notable Benefits | Purple tea benefits: antioxidant support, anti-inflammatory potential. | Metabolic and heart-health research focuses on catechins. |
| Brewing Notes | How to brew purple tea: ~80–85 °C, 2–3 min; delicate liquor. | ~75–80 °C, 1–2 min; avoid bitterness. |
| Origin Highlight | Often marketed as Kenyan purple tea (high-altitude cultivars). | Widely produced (China, Japan, etc.) with many regional styles. |
Appearance:
💜 Purple tea: The leaves carry a natural violet tint, thanks to high anthocyanin levels. Brewed tea often has a pale purple or pinkish hue.
💚 Green tea: Leaves remain bright green, producing a light yellow-green liquor in the cup.
Processing:
💜 Purple tea: Minimally processed. Leaves are withered and gently dried after harvest, helping to preserve antioxidants and natural pigments.
💚 Green tea: Steamed or pan-fried to halt oxidation, locking in its green colour and grassy flavour.
Caffeine Content:
💜 💚 Both teas contain caffeine, but purple tea caffeine content is typically lower than green tea, making it a gentler option for those sensitive to stimulants.
Flavor:
💜 Purple tea: Smooth, slightly sweet, with subtle floral and earthy notes.
💚 Green tea: Grassy, vegetal, sometimes a little astringent or bitter.
Chemical Composition:
💜 Purple tea: Rich in anthocyanins (the same antioxidants found in blueberries and grapes) alongside catechins, giving it unique purple tea antioxidant properties.
💚 Green tea: High in catechins like EGCG, linked to metabolism and heart health.
Read more about the chemical composition of purple tea here: identification and quantification of anthocyanin study
Purple Tea vs Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Purple Tea vs Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
| Feature | Purple Tea | Butterfly Pea Flower Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Made from Camellia sinensis (true tea plant). | Made from Clitoria ternatea (flowering herb). |
| Colour | Brewed liquor is pale lilac or pink. | Bright blue; turns purple with lemon. |
| Origin | Genetic mutation in tea leaves. | Blossoms of the butterfly pea plant. |
| Region | Primarily grown in Kenya (also some in Asia). | Native to Southeast Asia. |
| Nutrients | High in anthocyanins + catechins (antioxidants). | Anthocyanins; linked to stress relief & skin health. |
| Flavour | Smooth, earthy, slightly sweet; light to rich depending on processing. | Mild, floral, slightly sweet; often blended with herbs or citrus. |
Although both teas are admired for their striking colours and high levels of anthocyanins, purple tea and butterfly pea flower tea are very different in origin, flavour, and health properties:
Key Differences:
Plant source: Purple tea comes from tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), while butterfly pea tea comes from flowers (Clitoria ternatea).
Colour: Purple tea brews a pale lilac-pink liquor, while butterfly pea tea brews a vivid blue that can shift to purple when lemon is added.
Flavour: Purple tea is smooth and earthy with subtle sweetness; butterfly pea flower tea is lighter and more floral.
Health focus: Both are antioxidant-rich, but purple tea is often linked to cardiovascular and metabolic support, while butterfly pea is tied to relaxation and cognitive health.
Kenyan purple tea offers the depth and versatility of a true tea with added anthocyanin benefits, while butterfly pea flower tea is a caffeine-free herbal infusion celebrated for its colour-changing magic and gentle wellness properties.
Continue reading everything about 👉 butterfly pea flower tea
Health Benefits, Side Effects, and Caffeine Content of Purple Tea
Health Benefits of Purple Tea
Packed with antioxidants such as anthocyanins and catechins, purple tea benefits may include:
✔️ Heart health: may support healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and circulation.
✔️ Cancer protection: polyphenols may help reduce cell damage and inflammation.
✔️ Immune support: antioxidants strengthen natural defenses.
✔️ Digestion: tannins may promote gut balance and protect against harmful bacteria.
✔️ Stress relief: theanine may calm the mind and support focus.
Note: Research is still developing, and benefits may vary by type and processing.
Read more about: the advances in purple tea research, and here for: the effects on polyphenols found in tea
Side Effects of Purple Tea
⚠️ Is purple tea safe? Generally yes, but like all teas, it contains caffeine and tannins, which may cause issues in sensitive individuals. Possible side effects may include:
⚠️ Insomnia if consumed late in the day.
⚠️ Jitters, nervousness, or headaches from excess caffeine.
⚠️ Stomach upset or reduced nutrient absorption from tannins.
⚠️ Stick to moderate amounts and avoid drinking purple tea on an empty stomach.
⚠️ Some people may have allergies to the catechins found in tea.
Purple Tea Caffeine Content
☕ Average: 25–50 mg per 8 oz cup (about half the caffeine of coffee).
☕ Varies by: leaf style, processing, steeping time, and water temperature.
☕ Lower caffeine than black tea, slightly less than or similar to green tea.
To lower the caffeine content, brew with cooler water and a shorter steeping time.
Tasting, Brewing, and Storing Purple Tea
🫖 What Does Purple Tea Taste Like?
The flavour of purple tea depends on how it’s processed, but most types share a few key characteristics:
Mild & smooth: naturally light with a gentle sweetness and earthy undertone.
Floral notes: some varieties carry subtle, fragrant aromas.
Nutty or fruity hints: certain styles develop richer, more complex flavours.
Slightly astringent: provides a refreshing, cleansing finish.
Purple tea is more delicate and nuanced than green or black tea, making it a favourite among tea enthusiasts who enjoy a refined, layered cup of tea.
🫖How to Make a Cup of Purple Tea
Hot Purple Tea
1. 1–2 tsp purple tea leaves
2. Add 8 oz (195–205°F / 90–96°C) water
3. Steep for 2–5 minutes
4. Strain and enjoy hot (adjust strength to taste).
Iced Purple Tea
1. 1 Tbsp purple tea leaves
2. Add 8 oz (195–205°F / 90–96°C) water
3. Steep for 2–5 minutes, then allow to cool
4. Pour over ice, add fruit or sweetener if desired.
Read more about 👉 making iced tea at home
🫖 How to Store Purple Tea
To keep your purple tea fresh and delicious, follow these simple storage tips:
Store in an airtight container, use a sealed tin or resealable bag to protect against air and moisture.
Keep your tea cool and dark, store in a cupboard or pantry, away from sunlight, heat, and humidity.
Keep separate from spices, coffee, or other aromatic foods.
Use within one year, loose-leaf purple tea stays fresh up to 12 months; tea bags have a shorter shelf life.
Purple Tea FAQs
1. What makes purple tea different from green or black tea?
Purple tea comes from the same Camellia sinensis plant, but a natural mutation gives the leaves a violet tint and higher anthocyanin content.
2. Does purple tea really look purple when brewed?
Not usually deep purple, the liquor is more of a pale lilac, pink, or light amber, depending on oxidation and steeping time.
3. Is purple tea caffeinated?
Yes, but less than black tea and coffee. An 8 oz cup contains about 25–50 mg of caffeine, depending on factors including steeping time and amount of tea used.
4. What are the health benefits of purple tea?
It may support heart health, reduce inflammation, aid digestion, and provide strong antioxidant protection thanks to anthocyanins and catechins.
5. Does purple tea help with weight loss?
Some studies suggest purple tea may help regulate metabolism and fat absorption, but more research is needed.
6. How should I brew purple tea?
Use 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz water at 195–205°F (90–96°C). Steep for 2–5 minutes, adjusting for taste.
7. Can I drink purple tea iced?
Absolutely! Brew a tea concentrate with more tea than usual, and allow to cool before pouring it over ice. Add fruit or herbs for extra flavour.
8. Where is purple tea grown?
Most Kenyan purple tea is grown at high altitudes, though smaller crops are also cultivated in India and China.
9. Are there any side effects of drinking purple tea?
Possible side effects are related to caffeine and tannins: insomnia, jitters, or stomach upset in sensitive individuals.
10. How should I store purple tea?
Keep it in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and strong odors. Loose-leaf tea stays fresh up to a year.
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It is important to note that any health advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, or overall health. The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice.