Courtlodge Estate Nuwara Eliya FBOP Loose Leaf Black Tea

🍵 The Estate — Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe from the renowned Courtlodge Estate, grown between 4,000 and 5,900 feet in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, where altitude and climate combine to produce exceptional leaf

🍵 The Liquor — A bright, coppery infusion with natural clarity and a lively, luminous quality that speaks immediately of its high-grown origin

🍵 The Character — Crisp and brisk with the classic point and astringency of a Nuwara Eliya tea, softened by a delicate floral note and a clean, elegant finish

🍵 The Occasion — Best enjoyed on its own to appreciate its full character, though equally pleasing with a modest splash of milk; ideal for a refined mid-morning cup

Nuwara Eliya is often called the champagne of Ceylon, and Courtlodge Estate is one of the finest reasons why. Sitting between 4,000 and 5,900 feet above sea level in Sri Lanka's central highlands, the estate has consistently produced some of the most distinctive high-grown Ceylon black teas available as a loose leaf — teas defined by their clarity, their natural brightness, and a brisk, lively character that sets them apart from every other region on the island.

The FBOP grade — Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe — is particularly well suited to Courtlodge. The leaf is intentionally broken during processing, which gives the infusion speed and intensity, while the inclusion of tips from younger buds adds a subtle floral quality and a softness that balances the tea's characteristic briskness. The result is a cup that delivers genuine depth without heaviness — bright and coppery in the pot, crisp and refreshing in the mouth.

Courtlodge sits on the western side of the Nuwara Eliya district, a positioning that matters more than it might seem. During February, the northwest monsoons create a rain shadow effect across this part of the region, producing a period of ideal growing conditions in which the leaf quality reaches its seasonal peak. The combination of cool air, careful cultivation at altitude, and this unique climatic rhythm gives Courtlodge teas their particular clarity and refinement.

This is a tea that rewards attention. It is elegant rather than punchy, expressive rather than overwhelming — a genuine high-grown Ceylon that performs beautifully without milk, though it holds its character well with a small dash if preferred.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists. With over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections available anywhere in the UK — we have spent nearly two decades seeking out teas of exactly this quality: single-estate, thoughtfully sourced, and capable of delivering something genuinely memorable in the cup.

Ingredients: Black tea (Courtlodge Estate, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka).

Brewing Note: Courtlodge FBOP brews quickly and rewards precision. Use freshly drawn water brought to around 95°C — just off the boil — and steep one heaped teaspoon per cup for three to four minutes. A shorter steep will give a lighter, more delicate result; four minutes will bring out more of the tea's characteristic briskness and body. Because the leaf is broken rather than whole, it releases flavour faster than a larger-grade Ceylon, so avoid over-steeping or the astringency will sharpen beyond its natural elegance. This tea is best enjoyed without milk to appreciate its clarity, though a small splash suits it well if preferred.