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Black Tea

Organic Darjeeling Tea Bags

$68.99

Grown in Mt. Everest’s shadow, this fruity black tea is the best of Darjeeling—the world’s most iconic tea region. While its juicy body holds the traditional muscat-grape flavor that made the region famous, the story behind this Darjeeling is anything but. Organic Darjeeling is created by a rare partnership between a farmer group and an established estate working together to create sustainable livelihoods for Indian farming communities.This tea is also available in loose-leaf as Darjeeling Autumnal. 

Preparation

Steep 1  8 oz  |  212° F  | 3.5 min
Steep 2  8 oz  |  212° F  |  5 min

Tasting Notes

  Condensed milk & mandarin orange

Origin

Darjeeling, Northeastern Indian Himalayas

Tea Makers

Subarna Small Farmers Society & Samabeong Tea Estate

Certifications

USDA Organic

Flavor & Aroma

Given the heft of this aromatic black tea, its lack of astringency is a pleasing surprise. Its medium-heavy body has the creamy quality of condensed milk, and a fruity tartness similar to a cappuccino, yet, the tartness never becomes acidic. The tea ends with a clean, citrus finish, reminiscent of mandarin oranges. 

Origin Story

India’s iconic Darjeeling region is a confluence of culture and ecology. Running along Nepal’s eastern border, this mountainous region’s sharp ascent from the plains of West Bengal into the towering Himalayas creates the ideal conditions for the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, to flourish. As rain clouds heavy with water from the Bay of Bengal collide into the mountains, the tea bushes receive intense bursts of rainfall followed by strong, unfiltered sunlight. These heavy rains are actually what gives the region its name; “Darjeeling” means “Land of the Rolling Thunder” in Tibetan. 

  • Origin Story
  • Production

Tea Makers

Organic Darjeeling is created through a partnership between a group of tea farmers named Subarna and an established tea estate named Samabeong. The Subarna farmers plucked their tea bushes and sell their harvest to Samabeong for processing into finished tea. The collaboration began in the 1990s, when the farmers at Subarana decided to try their hand at tea. Initially, they got guidance from the owners of Samabeong on how to transition their farmland from ginger and cardamom to tea bushes. A few years later, once the tea bushes were mature enough to be harvested, Samabeong began purchasing the harvest. Today, the two partners continue to create teas together and find ways to elevate their work, tea and beyond. From intercropping tea with other native species, to vocational training workshops, infrastructure development, and health sanitation projects, this partnership is changing the norms of India’s most prized tea region. 

Impact

The partnership between Subarna and Samabeong is a rare example in Darjeeling of  independent farmers and established estates working together. Most Darjeeling tea is grown on  privately-owned estates, and historically, independent Darjeeling farmers have been kept out of the tea trade. This new approach represents an important step towards a more equitable and inclusive future for Darjeeling.

Our Sustainable Packaging

Tins

Durable and reusable, made from 100% recyclable steel. Labels are not recyclable but made from 50% hemp and 50% post-consumer waste.

Bulk Bags

Tough, resealable stand-up pouches with storing moisture and oxygen barriers. Not recyclable due to a 3-layer structure that serves as a food-safe barrier to keep your tea fresh as long as possible.

Pyramid Tea Bags

Recyclable stand-up pouches with tea bags, strings, and tags made from 100% sugarcane PLA, commercially compostable and degrades into organic matter. For best results, use a commercial compost facility.