NEPAL TEAS

The Himalayan Foothills

Nepal's tea gardens sit high in the foothills of the Himalayas, some at altitudes of around 7,500 feet above sea level. At these heights, the slow rate of leaf growth — cooler temperatures, thinner air, long hours of mountain sun — allows the leaf to develop a complexity and clarity that is the hallmark of great high-grown tea. Nepal has been producing tea for well over a century, but it is only in recent years that its finest estates have gained the international recognition their quality deserves.

Flavour and Character

The three teas in this collection show how much variety Nepal can offer within a single origin. Nepal Himalayan Travellers Tea is the most immediately striking: a medium leaf tea with a round, spicy bouquet and a lively, aromatic cup that captures the freshness of high-grown Himalayan tea at its best. Nepal Maloom FTGFOP1 shows a softer, more floral side — highly aromatic, elegantly balanced, with a well-rounded flavour that makes it a lovely afternoon cup. Nepal Ilam Estate 2nd Flush TGFOP brings a muscatel fruitiness to the range, its expressive, nuanced character placing it closest to the celebrated second flush style of neighbouring Darjeeling.

Brewing Nepal Tea

Nepal teas are best enjoyed black, without milk, where their floral, spicy and fruity notes can come through clearly. Use water at around 90 to 95°C rather than a full rolling boil, and steep for three to four minutes depending on preference. The more delicate Maloom rewards the lighter touch; the Ilam Estate second flush can take a slightly longer steep. These are teas for slower, more attentive drinking rather than a quick morning brew.

Nepal is one of the most rewarding discoveries for anyone who already loves Darjeeling. The similarities in character are clear — the mountain freshness, the floral complexity, the muscatel edge — but Nepal teas have a quality distinctly their own, and these three estates give a genuine sense of what the country is capable of producing.