Indian Black Tea

An aroma hinting of muscatel and oak introduces the smooth, ruby-amber liquor of this second flush Darjeeling. A syrupy mouth feel wraps around notes of stone fruit, leading to a bright, crisp finish. Add a splash of milk to enhance the rich quality of the cup.

The bold, attractive leaves of Balasun Estate’s very first plucking are sprinkled with a fair complement of silvery tips. The fresh aroma is delicate, with honeyed floral hints. The amber-gold cup is exceptional, with rich floral notes enhanced by a silky smooth mouth feel. A tropical fruit sweetness leads to a crisp, lingering finish.

Located in the Dooars region at the southern edge of Darjeeling district, the Nuxalbari Estate is a tea garden dedicated to the safety of Asian elephants and their environments. This organic second flush premium black tea offers a sweet aroma that hints of honey and flowers. The velvety smooth, amber liquor is notable for its full mouth feel and perfumed floral quality, complemented by pronounced honey notes. The finish is crisp and lingering.

Named after a river that flows through the tea garden, the Balasun Estate has been producing premium teas for 150 years. In this first flush Darjeeling, a light pungency adds a lively aspect to the sweet, floral fragrance. Rich notes of flowers and honey, accented by warm toasty hints, are supported by a buttery smooth mouth feel in the golden amber cup. The finish lingers on a crisp, clean note.

This broken-leaf Assam selection boasts a well-balanced mix of dark brown leaves and downy golden tips, which yields a dark copper liquor with a malty aroma that hints of cocoa. A full, solid mouth feel supports notes of cocoa and malt, enhanced by a stone fruit sweetness. The finish is smooth and lingering.

An abundance of glossy golden tips complements the attractive, well-twisted leaves in this outstanding Nilgiri black tea selection. The ruby copper liquor has a toasty fragrance with hints of malt. Layers of rich honey, malt, and cocoa lend a delightful complexity to the toasty cup, which finishes with a hint of spice.

Decorated with downy silver tips, the bold olive-green leaves of this first flush selection produce a refreshing, amber-gold cup filled with tropical fruit sweetness. A light stone fruit aroma is complemented by crisp hints of white wine that linger in the smooth finish.

This outstanding selection displays beautiful leaves in shades of green, sprinkled with delicate, silvery tips. The fragrance is fresh and sweet, with hints of corn silk. The sparkling amber-gold cup is bursting with honey sweetness and rich floral notes reminiscent of a spring garden. A buttery smooth mouth feel supports light vegetal hints and a crisp, lively quality that lingers long into the finish. Savor each sip of this stellar offering.

With elevations ranging over 6,000 feet, the Thurbo Estate has been producing premium Darjeeling teas for over a century. In this first flush offering, silver tips decorate attractive leaves in a colorful display of olive greens. A rich toasty aroma introduces an amber-gold cup with an assertive character that enhances its full, lively mouth feel. Fresh floral/herbaceous notes and a honey sweetness are complemented by notes of stone fruit, which lend a gentle crispness to the lingering finish.

An inviting floral fragrance introduces this first flush selection from the Arya Estate, which has been producing premium Darjeeling teas for over 100 years. The amber gold cup is lively and bursting with mouth-filling complexity. Notes of sweet flowers, buttery corn silk, juicy tropical fruit and creamy almond create a rich harmony of well-balanced flavor that lingers long into the crisp finish.

This finely particled “Golden Orange Fannings” leaf Assam tea produces a dark copper cup with rich flavor and a warm toasty aroma that hints of malt. A stone fruit sweetness enhances flavor notes of dark baking cocoa and malt, complemented by a full mouth feel and ending with a smooth, lingering finish. While the GOF grade of tea is often used for blending, this selection is an excellent self drinker while also being strong enough to accommodate a dollop of milk, if desired.

In this selection from the Mangalam Estate, a sprinkling of downy golden tips threads through the dark brown leaves, producing a strong, rich cup with a sweet, malty fragrance hinting of carob. The deep copper liquor reveals pronounced malty flavor with a chocolate thickness and dark sugar sweetness. A pleasant astringency plays at the edges of the palate, leading to a smooth, lingering finish.

With a rich, floral flavor and pronounced buttery mouth feel, this first flush offering, from Margaret’s Hope Estate, offers outstanding cup quality. The amber-gold liquor is fragrant with fresh corn silk notes warmed by a gentle hint of toastiness. A honey sweetness leads to a clean finish that lingers with a classic “crisp Darjeeling bite.”

Rich and full-bodied with a crisp, lively character, this second flush tea displays a profusion of gold and silver tips decorating the dark-brown, broken leaves. The aroma hints of sweet muscatel, which intensifies into notes in the dark ruby-amber cup. A warm toastiness lingers in the finish. Good with milk.

This first flush offering is noteworthy for its eminently smooth character and pronounced honey sweetness. The light amber-gold cup is fragrant with an inviting aroma hinting of stone fruit and flowers. Tropical fruit hints and a gentle whisper of toastiness lead to a crisp, refreshing finish.

Downy golden tips provide a beautiful contrast to the bold, dark brown leaves of this Assam selection. A sweet malty aroma, hinting of cocoa, introduces a thick, rich cup filled with the flavors of malt, dark sugar, cocoa and toast. A pleasant astringency leads to a smooth finish that lingers with nuances of warming spice.

A rich, organic tea with solid body and full mouth feel. A pleasing, balanced cup with a classic Nilgiri flavor and style.

From the Chamraj Estate in the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India, this “Frost” tea is grown during the cold winter months, which imparts a unique character to the light amber cup. A sweet floral aroma introduces the silky smooth liquor, setting the stage for a pronounced sweetness that envelops notes of juicy tropical fruit. A long lingering finish completes a very satisfying tea experience.

The juxtaposition of golden tips and dark leaves gives this Assam offering an outstanding appearance. The rich, malty aroma promises an enticing cup, notable for its thick, velvety mouth feel and pronounced cocoa notes. A hint of sweet spice lingers in the finish.

Harvested on March 3, 2022, this stellar first flush Darjeeling intoxicates with its fresh floral fragrance. Upon first sip, the vibrant gold liquor fills your mouth with a buttery smooth feeling like golden cornsilk. Enlivened by a rich honey sweetness, the classic floral character conjures a stroll through a lush spring garden. Vegetal hints linger in the crisp finish, completing a delightful tea moment.

Sprinkled with downy golden tips, the dark brown, well-made leaves of this 2020 second flush tea yield a deep copper-amber liquor with a sweet, complex fragrance that portends the richly layered nuances in the cup. An ambrosial honey sweetness wraps around ripe fruity notes and floral/herbaceous hints, complemented by a full mouth feel. The finish is smooth and lingering.

Delicate golden tips adorn the dark-brown, broken leaves of this organic second flush selection. A pronounced sweet fragrance heralds a rich toasty cup, strong enough for a splash of milk, if desired. A whisper of tropical fruit sweetness lingers in the crisp finish.

Harvested during the second flush season, this top selection showcases dark brown leaves accented with gold and silver downy tips. A toasty aroma introduces a smooth, rich dark-amber liquor with a honey sweetness and ripe muscatel notes that become more pronounced as the tea cools. The finish lingers with hints of stone fruit.

In this first flush offering from Singbulli Estate, bold, well-made leaves in variegated tones of olive-green, sprinkled with silver tips, steep a golden amber liquor with a vibrant aroma hinting of sweet flowers and buttery corn silk. The cup is rich and smooth with a delectable honeyed floral flavor that fills your mouth upon first sip. The finish lingers with a crisp “bite.”

Chunky leaves, in variegated shades of brown, produce a solid cup redolent with fragrant layers of fruit and spice, complemented by toasty/nutty hints. The dark amber liquor exhibits rich toasty notes wrapped in a stone fruit sweetness, which becomes more pronounced as the tea cools. This sweet character makes this second flush Darjeeling the perfect choice for iced tea.

An abundance of downy golden tips provides a striking contrast to the dark brown leaves in this Assam selection. The toasty aroma is complex with hints of malt, warm cocoa and red wine. The deep copper cup is bright and lively, introducing layers of Burgundy and malt that are complemented by a suggestion of spice in the crisp, lingering finish.

A brisk, lively character distinguishes this Assam offering. Accented with hints of cocoa, a rich malty aroma introduces the dark copper cup. A toasty sweetness embraces notes of cocoa and malt in the flavor, ending with a smooth, lingering finish.

Adorned with downy golden tips, the bold, dark brown leaves of this offering infuse a classic Assam featuring a delightful balance of rich maltiness and refreshing astringency. The aroma is fragrant with hints of malt and semi-sweet chocolate. A dried fruit sweetness and hints of warming spice and cacao lead to a crisp finish.

This superlative first flush offering is the very first plucking at the Rohini Estate, located in the Kurseong valley of Darjeeling district. The exquisite leaves display full leaf sets, crowned with downy silver tips. Accented by notes of honey and corn silk, the sweet aroma evokes the freshness of early spring. The delicate amber-gold cup is buttery smooth with classic floral notes, complemented by light vegetal hints. A lively crisp quality lingers in the finish, completing an unparalleled tea experience.

With the introduction of this special tea, Upton Tea Imports is proud to continue our tradition of being the first US tea company to offer the very first harvest from the first flush Darjeeling season of 2021.

The Perfect Holiday Gift! Experience the unique terroir of India in a cup of tea with our exciting new gift set, “Passport to Explore: Teas of India! This set offers four premium black teas to sample: TA40: Tippy Orthodox GFOP Assam, TD50: No.1 Tippy Orthodox GFOP Darjeeling, TN68: Iyerpadi Estate Organic OP, and EFT4: Nuxalbari Estate Masala Chai Organic. Beautifully packaged in our gold-embossed “passport” folder, this special gift set is sure to please tea novices and tea connoisseurs alike. Each sample size packet will yield approximately 4-5 six-ounce cups of tea.

Pronounced floral/herbaceous notes permeate the sweet aroma of this broken-leaf second flush Darjeeling. The dark amber cup fills your mouth with rich notes of fruit and honey, which linger into the crisp finish. A great choice for a splash of milk, if desired.

This organic first flush Darjeeling selection offers bold leaves accented by a plethora of downy silver tips. The amber-gold cup exhibits a bright, refreshing character, which accentuates notes of honey, tropical fruit and melon. A crisp, clean finish completes a delightful tea experience.

A plethora of downy golden tips adorns this imperial broken-leaf offering, which produces a velvety smooth cup with an inviting malty aroma that hints of Burgundy. The dark ruby-copper liquor is rich and toasty with a hint of malt and a crispness that lingers into the finish.

A rich cocoa aroma, intensified by a honey sweetness, introduces this broken-leaf Assam selection. The hearty cup is velvety smooth and malty with hints of cocoa and a stone fruit sweetness that increases as the tea cools. The finish lingers on a crisp note.

Small, light-green tips yield a very pale golden liquor in this white tea offering from Mim Estate. The mouth feel is silky smooth and delicate yet the flavor reveals a rich complexity with hints of corn silk, light buttercup notes and a floral sweetness. A crisp, lingering finish completes an exceptional tea experience.

Harvested on March 8, 2022, this is the very first plucking of the first flush season at Tindharia Estate. A profusion of downy silver tips decorate the olive-green leaves, which produce a fragrant golden liquor redolent with buttery floral notes suggestive of honeysuckle. The silky smooth cup fills your mouth with a lively feel that awakens the palate. Classic floral notes pair with a fruity sweetness reminiscent of juicy pineapple, which linger into the crisp finish. A truly delightful way to enjoy a tea moment at any time of day.

The bold, dark-brown leaves of this 2020 Assam offering produce a deep ruby-copper liquor, thick and rich, with a light malty aroma. Toasty/woody nuances complement hints of malt and cocoa in the smooth flavor. The lively finish lingers with a whisper of spice. A great value for your everyday cup.

This superior selection is the second plucking of the first flush season at the Upper division of Namring Estate, one of the oldest tea gardens in Darjeeling district. Ultra-bold leaves, in shades of olive green accented with silver tips, produce a pale amber-gold cup, fragrant with hints of tropical fruit. A smooth buttery mouth feel complements pronounced floral notes and hints of corn silk, enfolded in a rich honey sweetness that lingers long into the finish.

The well-twisted, dark brown leaves of this Assam offering produce a dark copper liquor fragrant with pronounced malty notes, a toffee sweetness and hints of dried cherry. The hearty cup exhibits a rich complexity with crisp highlights spotlighting notes of malt and carob. As the tea cools, stone fruit notes bloom and linger in the dry finish.

Harvested at the peak of the first flush season at Singtom Estate, this broken-leaf Darjeeling offering is redolent with the aroma of fresh flowers. The golden amber cup introduces a gentle astringency that plays at the edges of the palate, creating a wonderful counterpoint to the intensely sweet dried fruit hints in the vibrant flavor. A bright refreshing quality lingers in the finish.

Located in the majestic Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, at an elevation range of 3,000-6,000 feet, the Margaret’s Hope Estate has been producing outstanding teas for over a century and a half. This second flush offering continues that fine tradition with its rich fruity character, exhibiting mouth-filling notes of muscatel, enhanced by a honey sweetness and toasty/woody hints. The finish is smooth and lingering.

Darjeeling white tea leaves are expertly rolled into medium pearl shapes, which produce a pale-gold liquor with a sweet tropical fruit aroma. A buttery smooth mouth feel and gentle character pair well with a pronounced nectar-like sweetness that lingers long into the finish. Each 'moondrop' pearl weighs approximately 3-4 grams and is perfect for multiple steepings.

This organic broken-leaf offering is a great choice for those seeking a Darjeeling that will accommodate a dollop of milk. The complex aroma is fragrant with layers of citrus, toasty spice and Burgundy. The dark amber cup is smooth and rich, revealing notes of toast and oak, supported by a brown sugar sweetness. A suggestion of tropical fruit lends a lively flair to the lingering finish.

The Risheehat Estate is well known for crafting top-notch Darjeeling teas. This organic second flush offering is true to their reputation. The full-bodied liquor is sweet and fragrant with rich, fruity notes of muscatel and dried apricot, enhanced by toasty/biscuity hints. The finish lingers with a gentle sweetness and a crisp suggestion of dry red wine.

Smooth and rich, this second flush Darjeeling offers pronounced muscatel notes in both the fragrant aroma and the dark amber cup. Nutty/toasty nuances and hints of honey lead to a dry, lingering finish that hints of spice. Another sublime selection from Victoria’s Peak, a division of the renowned Steinthal Estate.

Golden downy tips provide a beautiful contrast to the bold dark-brown leaves of this outstanding Assam selection. The dark copper liquor offers a malty aroma, complemented by a honey sweetness and bright hints of spice. The cup is smooth yet lively, with a complex flavor profile featuring layers of malt and cocoa, enhanced by nutty hints and nuances of warm spice that linger in the finish. Enjoy neat or with a splash of milk.

This Assam offering boasts a thick, eye-opening character, perfect for your morning cup. Pronounced malty notes in both the aroma and flavor join hints of cocoa and a stone fruit sweetness in the dark copper liquor. A whisper of red wine livens up the lingering finish.