Tea Guides

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Himalayan green tea is green tea grown high in the mountains of Nepal, in our case in Ilam at 5,000 to 7,000 ft, where cool air slows the leaf's growth and builds up sweet L-theanine rather than bitter catechins. That's why a properly brewed Himalayan green tea has no bitterness, even if you steep it a little too long.

I'm Bhaskar Dahal, founder of Nepal Hills Tea. My family farms tea in Ilam, and I've spent years bringing these mountain greens to Canadian cups. If you'd like to taste the difference before buying a full pouch, our Tea Sampler Kit ($30) includes our high-altitude green teas along with black, white, and oolong.

What Is Himalayan Green Tea?

Himalayan green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant grown on steep mountain farms in eastern Nepal, mainly in Ilam, with some gardens in neighbouring Taplejung. The leaves are barely oxidised, pan-fired or steamed soon after picking, and rolled to keep their fresh, vegetal character.

Elevation is what sets it apart from lowland green tea. Our green teas grow at 5,500 ft, where mornings are cold, mist is common, and the growing season is short. Nepal's National Tea and Coffee Development Board classes these eastern hill districts as the country's leading orthodox tea zone.

Why Is High-Altitude Green Tea Never Bitter?

Bitterness in green tea comes mainly from catechins, which the plant makes faster in hot, sunny, low-lying conditions. At 5,500 ft, cooler temperatures slow photosynthesis, so the leaf builds up fewer catechins and keeps more L-theanine, the amino acid behind the sweetness and the calm, focused feeling green tea drinkers talk about.

L-theanine is one of the most studied compounds in tea. Research catalogued on PubMed links it to relaxation without drowsiness, and a 2022 review calls it a unique functional amino acid in tea. Mountain mist works like natural shade cloth and raises theanine further, the same effect Japanese growers create artificially for gyokuro.

So you can steep our Floral Green Tea a minute too long and it stays smooth. "No bitterness" isn't a marketing line; it's the chemistry of altitude.

What Does Growing Tea at 5,100 ft Actually Look Like?

My father, Dev Dahal, farms tea in Ilam at 5,100 ft. His bushes grow slowly, sometimes at half the pace of lowland gardens. He picks the first flush by hand in spring, when the two leaves and a bud are still soft and pale green after months of cold.

He'll tell you the slow growth is the whole point: a leaf that takes longer to mature builds more flavour and sweetness. When I taste a new lot of green tea for Nepal Hills, I compare it with the cups from his farm I grew up drinking. If it has any harsh edge, it doesn't go in our range.

How Does Himalayan Green Tea Compare to Sencha and Dragon Well?

Japanese sencha is steamed, which gives it grassy, sea-like notes and a deeper green colour. Chinese dragon well (longjing) is pan-fired, with a warm chestnut note. Both are excellent teas, and both can turn bitter quickly if the water is too hot.

Himalayan green tea sits between the two. It's gently processed, with a floral, almost fruity aroma from slow growth at altitude and a naturally sweet finish. Because it has a lot of theanine compared with catechins, it's the most forgiving of the three to brew. If you gave up on green tea because it always tasted harsh, a mountain-grown Nepali green is the one to try.

How Do You Brew Himalayan Green Tea So It Stays Smooth?

Use water at 80°C (175°F), just off the boil and left to rest for two minutes. Steep 2 grams per cup for 2 to 3 minutes. The leaves are good for two or three infusions; add 30 seconds each time.

Even at a full boil our greens won't turn properly bitter, but 80°C keeps the floral top notes intact. Cold brewing works beautifully too: 8 hours in the fridge gives a sweet, crisp glass with no astringency at all.

Where Can You Buy Himalayan Green Tea in Canada?

Nepal Hills Tea ships single-origin Himalayan green tea across Canada from Peterborough, Ontario. Our greens come from Farmers Tea Co. in Malate, Ilam, a family farm at 5,500 ft led by artisan Dil Kumar Rai. Every green tea we sell is grown on a certified organic farm (USDA certificate CE-207237).

• Tea Sampler Kit ($30): the best place to start. Taste our green teas along with black, white, and oolong before choosing a favourite.
• Floral Green Tea: first-flush leaves with a naturally floral aroma and a soft, sweet finish.
• Organic Light Green Tea: our everyday green, bright, refreshing, and smooth cup after cup.
• Green Tea Everyday Pack: 250g (five 50g pouches of Organic Light Green Tea) for daily drinkers who already know they love mountain green tea.

For a closer look at Nepali green tea in Canada, read our Nepal green tea guide, or start with the full guide to Nepali tea.

Frequently Asked Questions About Himalayan Green Tea in Canada

Is Himalayan green tea bitter?

No. Grown at 5,000 to 7,000 ft in Ilam, Nepal, the leaf builds up more sweet L-theanine and fewer bitter catechins than lowland green tea. Cool mountain temperatures slow its growth and change its chemistry, so a properly stored, properly brewed Himalayan green tea tastes smooth and naturally sweet, with no bitterness even if you steep it a bit too long.

What elevation is Himalayan green tea grown at?

Our green teas grow at 5,500 ft at Farmers Tea Co. in Malate, Ilam, and my father's farm is nearby at 5,100 ft. Across our whole range, Nepal Hills teas come from gardens between 5,000 and 7,000 ft in Ilam and Taplejung, the high-elevation band that gives Nepali orthodox tea its typical sweetness.

How is Himalayan green tea different from Japanese green tea?

Japanese sencha is steamed and tastes grassy and sea-like, while Himalayan green tea is more floral and fruity, with a sweeter finish. The bigger difference is how forgiving it is: high-altitude Nepali greens have more theanine compared with catechins, so they stay smooth at temperatures and steeping times that would make sencha bitter. People who find Japanese greens harsh often prefer Himalayan greens.

Is Nepal Hills green tea organic?

Our green teas are grown on a certified organic farm, Farmers Tea Co. in Malate, Ilam, which holds USDA organic certification (CE-207237). The farm is run by artisan Dil Kumar Rai at 5,500 ft and uses no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. We import directly from the farm to Canada, so the journey from bush to cup is short and traceable.

How do I brew Himalayan green tea?

Use 2 grams of leaf per cup with water at 80°C (175°F) and steep for 2 to 3 minutes. You can steep the same leaves two or three more times, adding about 30 seconds each time. For cold brew, steep for 8 hours in the fridge. Because high-altitude leaf resists bitterness, small slips in temperature or timing won't ruin the cup.

Where can I buy Himalayan green tea in Canada?

Nepal Hills Tea ships across Canada from Peterborough, Ontario, and sells single-origin Himalayan green tea from Ilam directly on our website. Start with the Tea Sampler Kit ($30) to taste the range, or go straight to Floral Green Tea or Organic Light Green Tea. Orders ship from within Canada, so there are no surprise customs charges.

Bhaskar Dahal is the founder of Nepal Hills Tea, a Canadian direct-trade specialty tea company sourcing single-origin loose-leaf teas from Ilam and Taplejung, Nepal.