Asked at the tasting table

Every leaf in every tin comes from our own gardens in the Kangra Valley — one estate, one micro-climate, one factory. We never buy leaf from other regions or blend across origins to flatten flavour. What varies from batch to batch is the season, not the source.

In 2005, Kangra tea was granted a Geographical Indication — the same protection Champagne enjoys. It certifies that the tea was grown and made within the defined Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, using orthodox methods. Our estate teas carry this certification.

Keep it in its tin or an airtight caddy, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells (tea absorbs kitchen aromas readily). Stored well, our orthodox teas hold their character for 18–24 months, though we recommend drinking first flush within the year.

All true teas (black, green, white, smoked) contain caffeine — roughly 30–50mg per cup, about half that of coffee. Our Valley Wild Chamomile & Lemongrass is a botanical tisane and completely caffeine free.

Orders leave the estate within 2 working days. Delivery is 3–6 working days within India and 7–14 days internationally, fully tracked. Shipping is complimentary on orders over $75.

Fresh, soft water makes the biggest difference to your cup. If your tap water is very hard or chlorinated, use filtered water. Heat to the temperature on your tin — green and white teas scald easily, and re-boiled water brews flat.

If a tin arrives damaged or you're genuinely unhappy with a tea, write to us within 14 days of delivery and we'll replace it or refund you. Tea is personal — we'd rather earn your next order than argue about the last one.

Yes — we supply a small number of hotels, cafes and tea rooms, and we prepare estate gift boxes for weddings and corporate gifting. Write to care@himalayantea.co with 'Wholesale' or 'Gifting' in the subject.

Our gardens are managed without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers — mountain agriculture here has always been close to organic by default, and we are formalising certification. The high elevation, cold winters and snowmelt irrigation do much of the pest management for us.

Yes, and we encourage it. Between March and November we host small guided walks through the gardens followed by a factory tour and a guided tasting. Write to care@himalayantea.co at least a week ahead — we keep groups to eight people so the mountain stays quiet.