Tea Guides

If you've drunk supermarket black tea all your life, our Gold Black Tea will show you how different black tea can be. Grown at 5,500 feet in Nepal's Ilam district by Farmers Tea, it's a single-origin loose leaf black tea with golden tips, natural sweetness, and a smooth, malty character that needs nothing added. There's no bitterness or harshness, just the flavour that altitude and careful growing give it.

What Is Gold Black Tea?

Gold Black Tea is a fully oxidized black tea made from the buds and young leaves of Camellia sinensis plants grown at high altitude in Nepal's eastern Himalayan foothills. The "gold" is the golden-tipped buds included in the tea, the youngest part of the plant and the most concentrated in flavour. These tips give it a naturally sweet, honeyed character that sets good black tea apart from commodity tea.

We source it from Farmers Tea in Ilam, a certified organic farm partner at 5,500ft. At that height the leaves grow slowly and are dense with flavour, with more L-theanine (the amino acid behind tea's calm focus) and fewer tannins than teas grown lower down. The cup is rich and smooth at the same time.

Flavour Profile

Expect a malty, full-bodied base with honey, mango, and a light floral sweetness on the finish. There's no astringency or bitterness. The cup has warmth and depth without the edge that makes lower-grade black tea unpleasant to drink on its own.

Brewed strong, it holds up very well with milk, rich enough not to disappear behind it. Brewed lighter and drunk plain, the honey and fruit notes come forward. It works either way.

Who Is Gold Black Tea For?

• People switching from coffee. Its body and depth satisfy without the caffeine spike.
• Everyday black tea drinkers. It's a straight upgrade from breakfast blends or supermarket orange pekoe.
• Chai makers. Its high-altitude character stands up to milk and spice without turning harsh.
• Gift buyers. It has a clear story and a quality you can taste.

How to Brew Gold Black Tea

Western style (standard cup): Use 1 teaspoon (2 to 3g) of loose leaf per 250ml of freshly boiled water (100°C) and steep for 3 minutes. Adjust to taste: longer for a stronger, maltier cup, shorter for a lighter one.

With milk: Brew it a little stronger (3.5 to 4 minutes), then add milk to taste. It also makes a good base for masala chai: simmer it in milk with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon for 3 to 4 minutes.

Re-steeping: Good loose leaf Gold Black Tea can be steeped 2 to 3 times. The second steep is often a little lighter and sweeter than the first.

Storage: Keep it in the resealable pouch, away from light and strong smells. It stays fresh for 12 to 18 months from harvest.

Gold Black Tea vs. Our Other Black Teas

We carry four black teas, each with its own character:

• Gold Black Tea: smooth and malty with honey-mango sweetness. The everyday cup.
• Muscatel Black Tea: honey, grape, and dried fruit, with a complexity that comes from the jassid insect feeding on the leaves. More nuanced, and best drunk plain.
• Ruby Black Tea: dark cherry and cocoa notes, from Sandakphu Tea Estate. Fuller-bodied and excellent for chai.
• Special Black Tea: from Pathibhara Tea Estate in Taplejung at 6,000ft. Rare, very smooth, and the most complex of the four.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Nepal Hills Gold Black Tea grown?

Farmers Tea grows it in Nepal's Ilam district at about 5,500 feet, in the eastern Himalayan foothills. It's the same mountain range as Darjeeling, just across the border in Nepal.

How much caffeine is in Gold Black Tea?

About 40 to 70mg per cup, depending on how strong you brew it and how long you steep it. That's less than coffee (95 to 200mg) but enough for smooth, focused energy without a spike and crash.

Is Gold Black Tea grown on an organic farm?

Yes. Gold Black Tea is grown by Farmers Tea, a certified organic farm partner that holds grower-level organic certification. Certification for the product packaging is still in progress, but the tea is grown to certified organic farm standards.

Can I use Gold Black Tea to make chai?

Yes, it makes an excellent chai base. Its malty character and natural sweetness stand up well to milk, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. Brew it a bit stronger than usual for the best result.

How is it different from Darjeeling black tea?

Nepal's Ilam district and Darjeeling share the same Himalayan foothills, altitude, and tea cultivars, so the terroir is essentially the same, split by a political border. Gold Black Tea has the smooth, nuanced character of good Darjeeling, with direct farm traceability that most Darjeeling brands can't offer.

The Bottom Line

Gold Black Tea is the core of our range, the tea that tends to earn a permanent spot in the kitchen once people try it. It's smooth, malty, and naturally sweet, and it works as a morning cup, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a chai base. If you only try one of our teas, make it this one.

Buy Gold Black Tea or explore the full range with the Tea Sampler Kit.