Nepal Himalayan Travellers Tea In Between Flush Loose Leaf Black Tea

🍵 The Leaf — SFTGFOP1 grade Himalayan black tea, hand-plucked in the in-between flush for a medium leaf with bright, fresh character and exceptional clarity

🍵 The Liquor — A polished, deep amber cup with vivid brightness and a smooth, clean finish that reflects the high mountain air in which this tea grows

🍵 The Character — Aromatic and lively, with a rounded spicy bouquet, gentle floral depth, and a complexity that sits between the delicacy of first flush and the fuller body of second

🍵 The Occasion — Equally at home as a contemplative morning brew or a refined afternoon pot; a tea for those who appreciate origin, quality, and a true sense of place

Nepal Himalayan Travellers Tea is a beautifully expressive loose leaf black tea grown high in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the eastern districts of Nepal where the mountains share a border with Darjeeling. This SFTGFOP1 grade tea is harvested in the in-between flush — the late spring window that falls between the first and second pickings — a period that yields leaves with a compelling balance of the freshness found in early spring teas and the fuller, more rounded character that develops as the season matures.

Nepal's high-altitude tea gardens have been producing fine orthodox black tea since the first plantations were established in the Ilam district in the 1860s, grown from the same Chinese variety of Camellia sinensis that gives Darjeeling its celebrated character. The tea bushes here were planted later than many of their neighbours across the border, which contributes to a younger, fresher quality in the leaf. At elevations of 3,000 to 7,000 feet, combined with cool mountain temperatures, clean Himalayan air, seasonal rainfall and mineral-rich soil, the conditions for producing a truly distinguished black tea are exceptional.

In the cup, this is a very aromatic tea — bright, lively and polished, with a rounded spicy bouquet and a depth that rewards slow, attentive drinking. The medium leaf brews into a deep amber liquor with real clarity and fragrance. The character is complex without being demanding: structured enough to satisfy those who love a well-defined black tea, yet refined and smooth enough to be enjoyed without milk. It is a tea that carries a genuine sense of place.

Nepalese teas remain less widely known than Darjeeling among mainstream tea drinkers, which means they continue to offer exceptional quality at a price that reflects their relative obscurity rather than their true standing. For those who have yet to explore premium Himalayan tea beyond the better-known classics, this is a wonderful place to start.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, curating a collection of over 350 teas and infusions from the world's finest gardens. Teas of this character — fine, expressive and rooted in a specific time and place — are exactly what that collection was built to celebrate.

Ingredients: Black tea.

Brewing Note: Nepal Himalayan Travellers Tea is best brewed with freshly drawn water brought to just off the boil — around 90 to 95°C is ideal, which preserves the tea's aromatic brightness without drawing out any bitterness. Use one level teaspoon per cup and steep for three to four minutes, adjusting to taste. The first infusion will show the tea at its most lively and fragrant; a second steeping is also worthwhile, slightly longer and a little deeper in character. This tea is excellent without milk, which allows the spicy bouquet and smooth finish to come through cleanly, though it also holds up well with a small splash if that is your preference.