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Black Tea

Nilgiri Black Orchid

$23.99

Nilgiri Black Orchid is a fragrant black with notes of dried plum and crisp Asian pear. The all-women team of tea makers at Tea Studio created this tea in response to a challenge from one of the attendees of our Guided Tea Trips.

Size

Preparation

Steep 1 1 Tbsp /2.5 g | 8 oz | 210° F | 3 min
Steep 2 8 oz | 210° F | 4 min

Tasting Notes

Dried plum & crisp Asian pear

Origin

Nilgiri mountains of Southern India

Tea Makers

Tea Studio

Certifications

None (organically grown, verified through testing)

Flavor & Aroma

This well-shaped tea begins with a heavy aroma of dried plums. The tea jumps on the tongue with notes of bright, tart Asian pear balanced against comforting, sweet red beans. It is a whole-leaf black tea, a rarity for the Nilgris, and the result is a tea with more weight and heft than is common for the region. Lovers of Taiwan’s black teas from Sun Moon Lake will also likely enjoy this tea.

Origin Story

  The Nilgiri region contains India’s southernmost mountains. While the district is only slightly larger than Darjeeling, it produces nearly four times as much tea. The prolific growth can be attributed to the lush tropical climate that allows for year-round growth. Unlike other regions, most of the land is owned by small growers who sell their green leaf to “bought leaf” factories. Nigiri teas are generally known to be less bitter and difficult to oversteep. They also don’t get cloudy as they steep, which makes them popular for high-end iced tea. Read our blog about this region here.

Origin Story
Production

Tea Makers

 Tea Studio is a state-of-the-art processing facility in the Nilgiris, run by Muskan Khanna and jointly owned by several international partners. Muskan’s father, Indi, has been experimenting with just about every aspect of tea since Muskan was a child--from growing the leaf, to sourcing the equipment, to exporting tea by the container. Indi is a fearless self-made tea man, and Muskan inherited her father’s love for tea. Her creativity and passion is evident in the teas her team makes--they all incorporate traditional Chinese methods and machines. Under Muskan’s leadership, Tea Studio is currently run and operated exclusively by a team of women–rare for the tea industry in any part of the world, let alone India. Tea Studio is also an educational space designed to host groups and teach professionals how to make fine whole-leaf teas.

Impact

 In a trade dominated by men, Muskan and the all-women team at Tea Studio show change is possible. They are exercising a level of creativity unheard of in India tea, rethinking every aspect of tea’s production, from the field to the factory. And with women leading the way, social norms are being transformed in Nilgiri villages, as locals see women creating teas that are getting attention from buyers from across the globe. Through Tea Studio’s educational offerings, they are creating opportunities for more small growers to gain the skills needed to make high-quality teas, raising up their entire community.

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.

Nilgiri Black Orchid

Preparation