Among the Luhya the Maragoli – the tea growing tribe – are known to not only to love the brew so dearly so, but as expected, are naturally connoisseurs of Western Kenya tea. A typical Mulogoli tribesman knows his tea, and knows it well. Thus there’s a corner of Maragoli language dedicated to all things tea. Introducing the Maragoli language of tea…
Quick Fact: Tea in Kenya is grown mainly by small holder farmers tending to a crop that’s often less than half an acre big. Numbering close to half a million, the efforts of these family holdings earn Kenya a handsome return in foreign exchange as Kenya is the world’s largest exporter of black tea. That said, lots remains to be done to see to it that the farmers earn a fair wage sustainably and equitably. This article is in celebration of generations of tea growers in my family: my grandfather, my father and now me. Long may this tradition live…
Ichai Itambi
Literally, “tall tea” or “long tea”. Ichai itambi is not good tea. It’s mixed tea that is too thin on the milk.
Ituliungi or itulungi or iturunji or turunji
This word comes from sturungi (Kiswahili) or ‘Strong Tea’ in Kenyan street speak. It refers to black tea (often with no sugar). In the many ways how the Maragoli enjoy tea, iturunji commonly washes down maize roasted on the cob.
Inylon tea
The opposite of iturunji. It is technically not tea as it is milk lightened with water then served hot. Inylon gets its name from nylon the synthetic material, as someone thought it reminded them of that. Inylon forms the base for the hot beverage of your choice; be it hot cocoa drink, mixed tea by the teabag, coffee with milk or even a hot soya drink.
Ichai Inyifu or Ichai fupi
Clearly one that’s based on preference, ‘ichai fupi’ is mixed tea that’s well bodied with milk.
Mkafu
Mkafu is mixed tea that is without sugar (and often with barely enough milk) that is especially loathed when served at moments when an accompaniment is expected such as a working man’s breakfast. That said, mkafu tea, in particular is much welcome as a ‘washdown’ to aid in digestion after a hearty meal. In fact in Maragoli hosting, it is expected that ichai fupi mkafu is served the last course of Maragoli dining.
Inzilu
Inzilu means cold in Maragoli lnaguage. Ichai inzilu therefore is cold tea. By cold, I mean even room temperature tea, as tea is always served pipping hot in Maragoliland.