Darjeeling Second Flush Muscatel tin in a Darjeeling tea garden

CTC black tea · Darjeeling · Upper Hills · 1,800m

Darjeeling CTC

Our Own Gardens · Chai-grade · For the daily cup

Rs. 299.00
CTC stands for Crush-Tear-Curl — the granular tea grade made for milk-and-spice brewing. Most CTC in India comes from Assam or Dooars; Darjeeling CTC is rare because most of our region's leaf is processed as orthodox...
Size
  • From our own gardens
  • Free shipping over ₹599
  • Picked at peak season
  • Sealed fresh
The tea

CTC stands for Crush-Tear-Curl — the granular tea grade made for milk-and-spice brewing. Most CTC in India comes from Assam or Dooars; Darjeeling CTC is rare because most of our region's leaf is processed as orthodox whole leaf. We make a small batch every year from our own gardens because we drink chai too. Stronger than our orthodox teas, granular instead of whole leaf, and it takes milk, masala, and a long boil without falling apart. The 500g pack is the kitchen staple — chai for the whole family, three weeks of mornings.

Why ours

Most "premium" tea brands don't make CTC because it's not glamorous. We do, because chai is half the cups we drink at home. Same gardens, processed for the chai pot.

How to brew (so it's never bitter)
  • 100°C water, just off the boil
  • Steep 5 minutes, no longer
  • 1 tsp (≈2.5g) per cup
  • ≈ 100g ≈ 40 cups · 250g ≈ 100 · 500g ≈ 200 cups per pack
  • Best taken neat — milk optional
At a glance
Region
Darjeeling · Upper Hills · 1,800m
Style
CTC black tea
Format
Granular, loose
Season
Picked through summer monsoon
Caffeine
High
In the cup
Strong · Granular · Malty · Takes milk · Holds masala
Darjeeling CTC

Pure. Proven. Properly brewed.

Rooted in Darjeeling, brewed for the cup.

Real provenance, real freshness, real numbers.

  • 50 yrs

    On the same hills, in the same family.

  • 24 hrs

    From pick to seal, every harvest.

  • 100 %

    Single-origin from our own gardens.

  • 0 blends

    No anonymous auction-lot leaf — ever.

How to brew

Brewed so it’s never bitter.

Three steps. Five minutes. The cup we’d pour ourselves.

  1. 1

    Heat the water

    Bring fresh water just below the boil and let it settle a moment — the exact temperature for this tea is in the specs below.

  2. 2

    Measure & infuse

    One teaspoon (≈2.5g) per cup. Pour over the leaf, not the other way around.

  3. 3

    Steep & strain

    Steep for the time in the specs, then strain everything out — leave it in longer and it turns bitter.

Water temp
100°C
Steep
5 min
Per cup
1 tsp / ≈2.5g
Cups/pack
≈ 100g ≈ 40 cups · 250g ≈ 100 · 500g ≈ 200

In the cup

What to expect.

  • Muscatel note

    Honeyed, briskly fragrant — the signature second-flush cup.

  • Bright, never harsh

    Brisk on the tongue with a clean finish. Milk optional.

  • Garden-fresh aroma

    Picked, fired, sealed — so the nose finds what the leaf finds.

  • Whole-leaf body

    Twisted whole leaves, not dust — the way Darjeeling is meant to be.

Ask us why

Frequently asked.

How long does the pack stay fresh?

Sealed, our packs hold their flavour for 12 months. Once opened, store in a cool, dark spot and steep within 3 months for the best cup.

How do I store the tea?

Airtight tin, away from light, heat, and strong smells. The fridge is a no — moisture is tea's enemy.

Can I take it with milk?

You can — but the second-flush muscatel really shines neat. We'd nudge you to try one cup without first.

Is this organic?

We farm to organic standards on our own land. Certification is in progress; we'll show the badge here when it lands.

Where exactly is the garden?

The Darjeeling hills, on land our family has held for fifty years. The estate name and address stay private — provenance is in the cup, not on the label.

Pairs well with