Where to Buy Nepali Tea in the USA: Farm-Direct Loose Leaf, Shipped From Canada
Short answer: You can buy farm-direct Nepali loose-leaf tea in the United States from Nepal Hills Tea. We ship tracked orders from Peterborough, Ontario to every US state, process orders within 1 to 2 days, and shipping is free on US orders over $80. If you are new to Nepali tea, start with the 10-Tea Sampler Kit.
I am Bhaskar Dahal. My father and my brother grow tea in Ilam, in the eastern hills of Nepal, and I have been sharing these teas in Canada for six years. Until this fall we could only ship within Canada. Now American tea drinkers can order the same teas our Canadian customers drink, sent straight from our small warehouse rather than through a reseller.
Why is Nepali tea hard to find in the US?
Most Nepali tea leaves the country in bulk. Much of it is blended into other teas and sold under other names, so the farms that grew it never appear on the package. When you do find a tea labelled Nepali in an American store, it often does not say which farm made it or at what altitude.
Every Nepal Hills tea names its farm. We work with four small farm partners across two districts, Ilam and Taplejung, growing between 5,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level.
What should I order first?
The Tea Sampler Kit ($30 CAD) holds 10 loose-leaf teas, 5 g each, from all four farms: four black teas, two greens, two oolongs and two whites. Each portion brews 2 to 3 cups, so you can taste a tea twice before choosing a full bag. It is the way most of our customers find their tea.
If you already know you like black tea, these are good full-size starting points:
- Gold Black Tea — from Farmers Tea Co.'s certified organic farm in Malate, Ilam, at 5,500 ft. Gentle malt, light caramel and honey. Our everyday black tea, and the one coffee drinkers usually take to first.
- Muscatel Black Tea — from Norling Specialty Tea in Ilam (organic certification in process), 5,000 to 5,500 ft. Honey-grape muscatel, dried apricot and a light rose finish.
- Special Black Tea (Theba Black) — from Pathibhara Tea Estate in Taplejung, at 6,000 ft, a farm that follows organic farming practices. Dark chocolate, dried plum and pine resin. Our rarest tea.
How does shipping to the US work?
- From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- Carriers: Canada Post or DHL, with tracking on every order.
- Processing: 1 to 2 days after you order.
- Free shipping: on US orders over $80. Below that, the rate is shown at checkout before you pay.
Full details are in our shipping policy. Prices on our site are set in Canadian dollars; checkout shows exactly what you will pay.
How do I brew it?
For Gold Black Tea, use one teaspoon per cup of water at 90 to 95°C (194 to 203°F) and steep 3 to 4 minutes. It needs no milk. The same leaves give 2 to 3 more cups; add 30 to 60 seconds each time. Each product page lists its own brewing guide, and the Sampler Kit comes with one for every tea.
How is this different from tea at the grocery store?
Most grocery tea is broken leaf, blended from several origins, and packed long before it reaches the shelf. Ours is whole leaf from one named farm per tea, shipped by season. Whole leaves release flavour more slowly, which is why our teas stay smooth even when you forget them in the pot a little longer than planned.
We also return 5% of revenue to our partner farms, to help them reach or keep organic certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship Nepali tea to every US state?
Yes. We ship tracked orders from Ontario to addresses across the United States, by Canada Post or DHL. Orders are processed within 1 to 2 days.
Is there free shipping to the US?
Yes, on US orders over $80. Smaller orders show the shipping rate at checkout before you pay, so there are no surprises on the shipping line.
What is the best Nepali tea to try first?
The 10-Tea Sampler Kit. It covers black, green, oolong and white teas from all four of our farms, so you can find your favourite before buying a full bag.
Are your teas organic?
It depends on the farm, and we name it on every tea. Farmers Tea Co. and Sandakphu Tea Estate are certified organic. Norling Specialty Tea is in the process of certification. Pathibhara Tea Estate follows organic farming practices but is not certified.
Is Nepali tea the same as Darjeeling?
No. Ilam sits just across the border from Darjeeling, in similar hills, but these are different farms with their own bushes and their own way of making tea. Many people who enjoy Darjeeling also enjoy Nepali tea.
Nepal Hills Tea ships across Canada, the USA and some regions around the globe. Start with the Sampler Kit, and write to us if you have any question about which tea to choose.
