Nuwara Eliya Pekoe Loose Leaf Black Tea — Lover's Leap Estate

Nuwara Eliya Pekoe from Lover's Leap Estate is among the most refined Ceylon black teas available as a loose leaf, sourced from a garden with a history as captivating as the tea it produces. Grown at over 6,000 feet above sea level in Sri Lanka's cool central highlands, this high-grown Ceylon tea is celebrated for its lively, astringent character and exceptional brightness — qualities that reach their peak during the dry season months of February and March, when cool nights, frosty mornings and clear sunny days coax the very best from the leaf.

Lover's Leap Estate takes its name from a local legend of two lovers — a prince and a commoner — who leapt together from a rocky cliff on the estate rather than be parted. The garden has a remarkable heritage: opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1954, it has since earned a place among the most prestigious Ceylon producers, with its teas having been served at Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee celebrations.

The Pekoe grade leaf produces a cup that is immediately distinctive. In the pot it brews to a clear, luminous gold — the palest and brightest of all Ceylon tea liquors, as the Sri Lanka Tea Board has long noted of Nuwara Eliya's finest teas. The flavour is clean, brisk, and refreshing, with a lively astringency that gives structure and a delicate, lingering finish. There is a floral quality too — subtle and restrained, a natural expression of the altitude and the cool highland air.

This is a tea for those who value origin and seasonality — a single-estate loose leaf black tea that needs nothing added to it, though it takes milk with ease for those who wish. Pure black tea, nothing more.

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 in the country — we have spent nearly two decades seeking out teas of genuine character and provenance, from famous gardens and quieter discoveries alike. Lover's Leap is the kind of estate that reminds you why single-origin Ceylon tea commands such respect.

Ingredients: Black tea.

Brewing Note: For a tea of this quality and refinement, water temperature and steeping time are worth a little attention. Use freshly drawn water brought to a full rolling boil and allow one heaped teaspoon of leaf per cup. Steep for 3 to 4 minutes — enough to draw out the full brightness and structure of the Pekoe grade without tipping into bitterness. This tea is particularly rewarding taken without milk, which allows the pale golden liquor and the clean, brisk character of the high-grown leaf to come forward clearly. If you prefer milk, add it after brewing and keep the steep a little shorter. Avoid over-brewing: this is a tea that rewards precision rather than patience.