Single-origin muscatel black · 5,000–5,500 ft

Nepal Hills Muscatel Black Tea

Aromatic Honey-Grape Black Tea from Ilam, Nepal - Single Origin Whole Leaf

  • Organic in progress
  • Whole leaf only
  • 5% back to farm
Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea
Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 2 Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 2
Clear glass mug filled with muscatel black tea liquid on a textured surface. Clear glass mug filled with muscatel black tea liquid on a textured surface.
Muscatel Black Tea dry leaves — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 4 Muscatel Black Tea dry leaves — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 4
Muscatel Black Tea packaging back — Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 5 Muscatel Black Tea packaging back — Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 5
Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea
Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 2
Clear glass mug filled with muscatel black tea liquid on a textured surface.
Muscatel Black Tea dry leaves — Honey-Grape Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 4
Muscatel Black Tea packaging back — Single-Origin Nepal Tea from Ilam | Nepal Hills Tea — 5

Single-origin muscatel black · 5,000–5,500 ft

Nepal Hills Muscatel Black Tea

Aromatic Honey-Grape Black Tea from Ilam, Nepal - Single Origin Whole Leaf

  • Organic in progress
  • Whole leaf only
  • 5% back to farm
SELECT WEIGHT

$60.00 away from free Canada-wide shipping

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Description

Muscatel Black Tea is a rare single-origin loose leaf black tea from the Ilam district of Nepal — grown at 5,000–5,500 ft above sea level by the artisan team at Norling Specialty Tea. Expect deep honey-grape muscatel, dried apricot, and a light rose finish. Silky smooth, naturally sweet, and no bitterness.

The Story of Muscatel Black Tea

True muscatel character cannot be manufactured — it is coaxed out of the tea plant by nature. A small leafhopper called the green jassid nibbles young leaves during the late spring flush, triggering the plant to produce a distinctive aromatic compound: the honey-grape-apricot depth that defines genuine muscatel. You cannot add it artificially. It either happens on the bush, or it does not.

At Norling Specialty Tea in Ilam, eastern Nepal, 40 smallholder families tend high-altitude plots at 5,000–5,500 ft — the elevation where cool mountain air, slow growth, and mineral-rich Himalayan soil concentrate every flavour compound into the leaf. The result is a cup that rivals the finest Darjeeling second flush muscatel, without the Darjeeling price tag. Hand-processed in small seasonal batches and shipped directly to Canada.

Why Muscatel Black Tea Is Different

  • Genuine jassid-produced muscatel aroma — the same rare phenomenon found in top Darjeeling second flush teas
  • Grown at 5,000–5,500 ft in the Ilam highlands — altitude means slower growth and more flavour complexity per leaf
  • Single-origin: every gram from Norling Specialty Tea's farms in Ilam, Nepal — never blended, never mixed
  • Zero bitterness — the muscatel sweetness is entirely natural, needs no milk and no sugar
  • Purchasing this helps support farms like Norling Specialty Tea achieve organic certification through our 5% back to farm program

About Norling Specialty Tea

Norling Specialty Tea is a young farm in the Ilam district of eastern Nepal, operated by youth artisans — 40 smallholder families and a team of young tea makers who hand-tend tea bushes at 5,000–5,500 ft above sea level. The farm is currently in the process of organic certification. Norling's teas are produced in limited seasonal batches, hand-processed from leaf to bag, and shipped directly to Canada.

New to Nepal Hills Tea? Start with the Tea Sampler Kit ($30 CAD) — 10 single-origin teas from all 4 farms, including Muscatel Black Tea, in one discovery set.

What's included

The honey-grape muscatel note is coaxed out by the green jassid leafhopper nibbling young leaves during the late spring flush at Norling Specialty Tea, Ilam (5,000–5,500 ft). It cannot be added — it either happens on the bush or it does not.

Brewing

Hot — 90–95°C, 3–4 min. Re-steeps 2×.
Naturally sweet — no milk or sugar needed. One teaspoon per cup.

Shipping & returns

Free Canada-wide shipping on orders $60+. Free local delivery in Peterborough, ON over $20. Not for you? Contact us within 30 days — our refund policy covers it.

5% back to farm

Purchasing this helps support farms like Norling Specialty Tea achieve organic certification — 5% of every order goes directly back to our four partner farms.

Single-origin No bitterness Whole leaf only Grown at 5,000–7,000 ft 5% back to farm

Know your tea.

Every Nepal Hills tea names its farm, its grower, and its altitude. Here's exactly where this one comes from.

  • Ilam, Nepal Tea origin Ilam, Nepal Tea origin
  • Norling Specialty Tea — organic in progress Tea garden Norling Specialty Tea — organic in progress Tea garden
  • Xempoo Rai · 40 smallholder families Producer / artisan Xempoo Rai · 40 smallholder families Producer / artisan
  • 5,000–5,500 ft above sea level Farm elevation 5,000–5,500 ft above sea level Farm elevation
  • Black · jassid-bitten muscatel Tea type Black · jassid-bitten muscatel Tea type
  • ~40–70 mg per 8 oz cup (moderate) Caffeine level ~40–70 mg per 8 oz cup (moderate) Caffeine level
  • Honey-grape muscatel · dried apricot · light rose Tasting notes Honey-grape muscatel · dried apricot · light rose Tasting notes

Watch: How to Steep?

From Himalayan garden to your cup

Made by an insect

The muscatel note can't be added.

A tiny green jassid nibbles young leaves in the late spring flush, triggering the plant to produce the honey-grape-apricot depth that defines true muscatel. It either happens on the bush, or it does not.

Darjeeling character, better value

Second-flush muscatel without the price tag.

Grown at 5,000–5,500 ft in Ilam — the terroir that borders Darjeeling — with direct traceability and a smoother, less astringent finish.

Who grew it

Norling Specialty Tea, Ilam.

40 smallholder families and a team of young tea makers, hand-processing small seasonal batches at altitude and working toward organic certification. 5% of your order supports that.

Tea in real life

Every cup tells a story. Here's how our community enjoys theirs.

  • Calm & Restore

  • Focus & Flow

  • Morning Ritual

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happy customers

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cups enjoyed

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from Nepali farmers

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back to farm, every order

No brokers, no auction houses — just four independent farms in Ilam and Taplejung, and a promise: 5% of every order goes back to them to fund organic certification.

A message from the founder

Why we bring Nepali tea directly to you

No brokers, no auction houses — just four independent farms in Ilam and Taplejung, and a promise: 5% of every order goes back to them to fund organic certification.

Questions, answered

What does muscatel black tea taste like?

Muscatel Black Tea from Nepal Hills has a distinctive honey-and-grape character with floral sweetness — what tea drinkers call the "muscatel" note. This flavor develops naturally when tiny jassid insects interact with tea leaves at high altitude, triggering the plant to produce aromatic terpene compounds. The result is a smooth, mildly sweet cup with stone-fruit depth and none of the bitterness common in standard black teas.

Is muscatel black tea bitter?

No. Nepal Hills Muscatel Black Tea is grown at 5,000–5,500 ft in Ilam, Nepal, where high altitude slows leaf growth and reduces tannin concentration — the compound responsible for bitterness. The result is a naturally smooth cup that requires no milk or sugar. Steep at 90–95°C for 3–4 minutes and you'll find the absence of bitterness is the first thing you notice.

How much caffeine is in muscatel black tea?

Muscatel Black Tea contains approximately 40–70 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup — moderate, comparable to a half-strength coffee. High-altitude growing conditions increase L-theanine content alongside caffeine, which produces a calm, focused energy rather than the jittery spike associated with coffee. Most people find Nepal Hills black tea provides smooth, sustained alertness without the crash.

What is the difference between muscatel tea and Darjeeling tea?

Both share the same Himalayan terroir. Nepal's Ilam district borders Darjeeling and grows at the same elevations. The key difference: Nepal Hills Muscatel comes from small-batch farms with direct traceability, while Darjeeling teas often pass through auction houses and multiple distributors. Nepal Hills Muscatel delivers the same honey-grape muscatel character with a smoother, less astringent finish — and at better value.

Is Nepal Hills Muscatel Black Tea organic?

Nepal Hills Muscatel Black Tea is sourced from Norling Specialty Tea in Ilam, Nepal, which is currently in the process of organic certification. The farm grows without synthetic pesticides — authentic muscatel flavor can only develop when no pesticides are used, because the jassid insects that create the flavor cannot survive chemical treatment. We contribute 5% of every purchase to the farmer organic certification fund.

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