FAQs

Which teas go well with the addition of milk?

Almost all chais take to the addition of milk well, with the exception of the Kashmiri Kahwa which has a green tea base. Other teas that work with milk are most Assam black teas, especially the summer black teas. Most breakfast teas are also made to take milk well.

Which tea would you recommend as a base for masala chai?

The best base for chai is the CTC tea. Different tea grades suit different ingredients. If you are using small ingredients like cardamom, use a smaller CTC grade like BP (Broken Pekoe). If the ingredients in it are big and chunky, like star anise, choose a grade like BOPSM (Broken Orange Pekoe Souchong Mixed). 

What should the temperature of water be, to brew tea?

What we are listing here is a good thumbrule but look at the steeping instructions for individual teas to get the correct temperature for it. 

Green tea – 70-75°C

White tea – 85-90°C

Oolong – 90-95°C

Chai – 95-100°C

Black tea – 95-100°C

Which teas have some citrus fruit or flavor in them?

The most famous tea that has a citrus flavor is the Earl Grey which is black tea blended with bergamot oil. There are teas blended with lemon or orange that would also suit this preference. 

I like light floral teas. Which ones should I try?

We would recommend something like our inhouse blend Rose Mist. Its a white tea blended with rose buds – light and floral.

Are Assam and Darjeeling teas CTC or Orthodox?

Darjeeling tea is all orthodox. In Assam, both CTC and orthodox methods are used in tea production.

Are all varieties of chai blended with milk? Is there a chai that can be drunk plain?

All tea, including chai, can be drunk plain, if you prefer it that way. Most chais are strong and milk is used to balance that. Kashimiri Kahwa is a chai blend that is only drunk plain as it’s made with a green tea base.

What is the difference between chai and masala chai?

Chai refers to tea made in the Indian style – CTC cooked in milk. Masala chai is chai made with spices like cloves, cardamom, and fennel.

Which Nepal black tea most resembles a Darjeeling black?

Both Nepal and Darjeeling black teas have their own personalities. For long, Nepal teas were seen as Darjeeling’s poor cousins but with the years Nepal’s teas have come into their own. So we would recommend you try them for their own qualities. 

What is the shelf life of tea?

It has been found that a considerable amount of polyphenols (antioxidants) in tea are lost with time. Tea leaves are known to remain fresh for about a year from the date of manufacture when stored under controlled atmospheric conditions. Teas are best consumed within this period with no significant difference in nutrition and flavour profile. 

What are herbal teas?

Herbal tea or tisanes refer to teas made from dried herbs (such as mint), dried fruits (such as apple), flowers (such as chamomile and jasmine), spices (such as ginger, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg), roots, berries and seeds. Tisanes may or may not contain tea leaves but is so called because it’s prepared much like any other tea.

Do all teas have the same effect on health?

Tea’s medicinal property is directly proportional to the amount of antioxidants present in it. This, in return, is dependent which leaves are used and how they are processed. The more the leaves are processed, the lower the antioxidants they retain. Each kind of tea (black, green, oolong, and white) undergoes a different processing technique, and therefore carry varying levels of caffeine, calories and antioxidants.

Is tea effective in weight loss?

Tea contains important polyphenolic compounds including catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins, known for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are known for improving the metabolic rate of the body and also for breaking down obesity-causing bad cholesterol. Drinking tea as a part of a healthy lifestyle has been advocated by many research studies; however no research has concretely proven if tea can help reduce weight. Tea is virtually calorie free and is therefore suitable for individuals on a low calorie diet.