Tea Guides

Last updated: June 2026

Nepali tea is single-origin loose-leaf tea grown in the Himalayan foothills of Ilam and Taplejung, Nepal, at 5,000 to 7,000 ft. The altitude slows the leaf's growth and concentrates theanine, so Nepali tea is naturally free of bitterness, however long you steep it. Try five varieties with our Tea Sampler Kit ($30).

I'm Bhaskar Dahal, founder of Nepal Hills Tea. I grew up watching my father, Dev, look after his tea garden in Ilam at 5,100 ft. Today I buy directly from four partner farms across Ilam and Taplejung, so I can tell you with confidence what makes Nepali tea different from anything else you've had.

This guide is the starting point for our Nepali tea library. To go deeper on one type, read our companion guides to Nepal green tea in Canada, Nepal oolong tea, loose-leaf black tea in Canada, and loose-leaf white tea in Canada.

What is Nepali tea?

Nepali tea is any true tea (Camellia sinensis) grown in Nepal. The two main growing regions are Ilam, eastern Nepal's rolling hill district, and Taplejung, a higher, more remote Himalayan district. Both sit at 5,000 to 7,000 ft, far higher than most of India's Assam gardens (below 1,000 ft) and higher than most Darjeeling estates.

Altitude changes the tea in a specific way. Cold nights and thinner air slow the leaf's metabolism, so the plant makes less caffeine and fewer bitter catechins and concentrates more theanine, the amino acid behind smooth, calm alertness. That's why the tea is complex and still has no bitterness.

Nepal's tea industry is young next to China's, Japan's, or India's. Large-scale growing only began in the 1980s, so many farms were set up from the start for small-batch, artisan tea rather than commodity volume. The National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Nepal's official tea authority, records Ilam and the eastern hills as the centre of the country's specialty production. That history shapes the tea you get from us.

What are the two growing regions of Nepal?

Ilam's gardens run between 5,000 and 5,700 ft across rolling hills that get both the monsoon rains and cold fronts off the Himalayas. The changeable weather makes the plants hardy and gives the tea complex, layered flavours. Three of our four farm partners are here: Farmers Tea Co. in Malate village (5,500 ft), Norling Specialty Tea in Suryodaya (5,135 ft), and Sandakphu Tea Estate in Jasbirey village (5,500 to 7,000 ft).

My father, Dev Dahal, also farms in Ilam, at 5,100 ft, just below Farmers Tea Co. His garden is how I judge every batch I buy: I know what these hills do to tea leaves because I've been walking them since I was a child.

Taplejung is higher and more remote. Pathibhara Tea Estate sits at 6,000 ft there and makes our deepest, most complex black tea. The extra height and cooler weather give a different cup from Ilam's: denser, with a long finish and a chocolatey richness.

What are the types of Nepali tea?

Nepal makes black, green, white, and oolong tea, all from the same Camellia sinensis plant, processed differently after harvest.

Nepali black tea is the biggest category. We carry four black teas from both regions, each with its own character: honey and grain from Farmers Tea Co. (Gold Black Tea, 5,500 ft), honey-grape muscatel from Norling (Muscatel Black Tea, 5,135 ft), dark cherry from Sandakphu (Ruby Black Tea, 5,500 to 7,000 ft), and chocolate and stone fruit from Pathibhara (Special Black Tea, 6,000 ft). For the full picture, see our guide to loose-leaf black tea in Canada.

Nepali green tea isn't oxidized, so the leaf keeps its fresh, vegetal, floral qualities. Our Floral Green Tea and Organic Light Green Tea both come from Farmers Tea Co., a certified organic farm at 5,500 ft in Ilam. Neither turns bitter even on a full steep; there's more on that in our Nepal green tea guide.

Nepali white tea is the least processed: it's only withered and dried, so it shows Ilam's terroir most clearly. Our Floral White Tea and Fresh White Tea come only from Farmers Tea Co. in Ilam, where the cool mountain air lets the leaves dry slowly and gently, keeping their delicate floral notes. Read more in our guide to loose-leaf white tea in Canada.

Nepali oolong tea is partly oxidized, so it sits between green and black, with green tea's freshness and black tea's depth. Our Floral Oolong and Dark Oolong both come from Ilam, at 5,135 ft and at 5,500 to 7,000 ft; our Nepal oolong tea guide covers them in detail.

All four types of Nepali tea are free of bitterness, and that comes straight from the altitude. The antioxidant activity of tea polyphenols is well documented for all four, since they all come from the same Camellia sinensis leaf.

Where should you start with our Nepali teas?

If you're new to Nepali tea, start with our Tea Sampler Kit ($30): ten portions across five types, including black, green, white, and oolong, from all four of our farm partners. One kit will tell you which kind of Nepali tea suits you before you buy a full bag.

If you already know what you like:

• For black tea, try Gold Black Tea, certified organic from Farmers Tea Co. at 5,500 ft, with honey, grain, and a smooth, long finish.
• For muscatel character, try Muscatel Black Tea from Norling Specialty Tea in Ilam, with a distinctive grape-and-honey note and lingering sweetness.
• For green tea, try Floral Green Tea, naturally floral and grown on a certified organic farm at 5,500 ft in Ilam. It stays free of bitterness even on long steeps.
• For white tea, try Floral White Tea from Farmers Tea Co. in Ilam, delicate and clear, with spring blossom notes.
• For oolong, try Floral Oolong Tea, with honey blossom notes, from Norling Specialty Tea at 5,135 ft in Ilam. Norling is working toward organic certification.

How do you brew Nepali tea?

Since Nepali tea has no bitterness, you have more leeway than with most teas. A longer steep deepens the flavour without making it harsh.

Black tea: 95°C water, 1 heaped teaspoon per 250ml, 3 to 4 minutes. Steep it twice more.

Green tea: 75 to 80°C water (let boiling water sit for 2 minutes), 1 teaspoon per 250ml, 2 to 3 minutes. You'll get a clean, sweet, gently vegetal cup.

White tea: 75°C water, 1 to 2 teaspoons, 3 to 5 minutes. Ilam white teas are forgiving; a longer steep deepens the florals without adding bitterness.

Oolong: 85 to 90°C water, 1 heaped teaspoon, 3 minutes. Floral Oolong really opens up on the second steep.

Where can you buy Nepali tea in Canada?

Few Canadian shops stock Nepali tea. Most specialty tea stores carry Darjeeling, Chinese, or Japanese teas, and Nepali single-origin teas are still little known. Buying direct from the source is the only reliable way to get fresh, properly labelled Nepali tea in Canada.

Nepal Hills Tea ships across Canada, the USA, and select regions around the globe from Peterborough, Ontario. We buy directly from our four farm partners with no middlemen, so the tea is fresher and we answer straight to the growers. We've worked with these farms for years, and because I'm from Ilam, I check every batch against what I know these hills can produce.

Frequently asked questions about Nepali tea in Canada

What is Nepali tea?
Single-origin loose-leaf tea grown in Nepal's Himalayan foothills, mainly in the Ilam and Taplejung districts at 5,000 to 7,000 ft. The altitude makes it naturally smooth, free of bitterness, and rich in theanine. It comes in four main types: black, green, white, and oolong.

How is Nepali tea different from Darjeeling tea?
The two grow in neighbouring parts of the Himalayas and share some flavours, especially floral and muscatel notes. Nepali tea, though, grows higher on average, is often certified organic, and is much less known, so it's counterfeited far less. We buy single-origin tea directly from named farms and farmers.

Is Nepali tea organic?
Several of our teas are grown on certified organic farms: Gold Black Tea, Floral Green Tea, Organic Light Green Tea, Ruby Black Tea, and both white teas. Muscatel Black Tea and Floral Oolong Tea come from Norling Specialty Tea, which is working toward organic certification.

Does Nepali tea have caffeine?
Yes, but less than most black teas from lower gardens. At altitude the leaf grows slowly and makes fewer stimulants and more theanine, the calming amino acid. You get smooth, alert energy without the jitters of strong Assam or mass-produced black tea.

Where in Nepal is tea grown?
Mainly in Ilam and Taplejung, in the eastern Himalayan hills, and those are the only two regions we buy from. Our Ilam partners are Farmers Tea Co. (5,500 ft), Norling Specialty Tea (5,135 ft), and Sandakphu Tea Estate (5,500 to 7,000 ft). In Taplejung, we buy from Pathibhara Tea Estate at 6,000 ft.

How should I brew Nepali tea?
It depends on the type. Black: 95°C water, 3 to 4 minutes. Green: 75 to 80°C water, 2 to 3 minutes. White: 75°C water, 3 to 5 minutes. Oolong: 85 to 90°C water, 3 minutes. Because these teas aren't bitter, you can steep them longer without ruining the cup.

Can I buy Nepali tea in Canada?
Yes. We sell directly to Canadian customers online and ship from Peterborough, Ontario. The Tea Sampler Kit ($30) is the best place to start: ten portions across five tea types, so you can taste what Ilam and Taplejung produce before buying a full bag.

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.