Lumbini - Sri Lanka
Early in 2026 we set out on yet another tea discovery, this time in Sri Lanka. After visiting many tea shops and tasting countless teas, we found a lovely tea shop in Colombo that served very unique teas that we wanted to explore a little more. We took the journey deep into the jungle of Deniyaya – the southern Ruhunu region of Sri Lanka, where we were greeted by exceptional nature – lush trees, lotus flowers and monkeys running around the roads.
After many hours of driving, we arrived at the plantation which is located next to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The plantation was established in 1984 and the gardens are located between 450 and 500 meters above sea level. They stand out due to the area’s rich biodiversity, tropical climate and fertile soil, which contributes to the unique flavor profiles of their teas. The proximity of the forest creates a cool, misty and preserved ecosystem for the valley which is very favorable for tea cultivation. Here we could enjoy the view of cotton trees, jasmine flowers, cinnamon bushes, coffee bushes, guava, jackfruit, vanilla and lime, just to name a few of the many treasures that grow here.
The Lumbini plantation is spread over about 200 hectares and is home to about 2000 farmers who each own their tea gardens, which are located within a radius of 9 km.
From Lumbini we have selected two teas that stood out:
Lumbini Gold Curls
Sinharaja Wiry tips
Singbulli Estate
In the Mirik Valley, which is considered part of the Darjeeling area, lies this beautiful tea plantation. The plantation is certified organic.
In the summer, a very unique muscatel character develops here.
FOP gold is the highest quality they produce of their second flush summer tea. The taste is reminiscent of muscatel grapes, with nuances of exotic spices and vanilla.
This was our favorite on our first trip to Darjeeling. Now it is available to you!
Works great with sandwiches and other baked goods, or on its own.
Siddhadevi Estate – Nepal
In our search for exceptional teas, we have come across an excellent tea plantation in Nepal.
Siddhadevi Estate is an organic tea plantation known for its uncompromising focus on quality and for being run by women. Here, all tea leaves are harvested by hand, and the best qualities are further rolled by hand using traditional methods that preserve the natural character and finesse of the tea.
The result is teas with a rare purity, elegance and depth – created with respect for both the raw material and the people behind it.
Silver Wings
Among the plantation’s most exclusive teas we find Silver Wings – a delicate white tea with exciting nuances. In 2024, the tea was awarded the “World’s Best Tea Award” in the USA, a recognition that emphasizes the unique craftsmanship and quality behind each and every cup.
Silver Wings is organic, hand-picked and hand-rolled. The taste is elegant and fresh, with nuances of ripe peach, tropical fruits, citrus and a slightly spicy touch. The long, clean aftertaste makes this a tea you keep coming back to.
White tea is naturally rich in antioxidants, combining pleasure with something good for the body. This tea is perfect on its own when you want a quiet moment, but also works very well with lighter dishes and delicate meals.
Brewing recommendation
- Temperature: approx. 90°C
Steeping time: 4–5 minutes - Dosage: approx. 3 grams per 2 dl water
Okayti Estate – Darjeeling, India
In 2025, we had the pleasure of visiting Okayti Estate – an organic tea plantation located high in the Mirik Valley, in the heart of Darjeeling. With views of rolling hillsides, mist-covered mountains and endless tea bushes, this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful plantations we have visited.
Okayti was established in the early 1870s and today extends over 647 hectares. Originally called Rangdoo, the plantation quickly gained great attention among the British for its unique and exquisite quality. At tea auctions in London, the tea was referred to as “The only Okay tea” – a name that eventually evolved into Okayti. To this day, the plantation is considered one of the area’s leading producers of classic Darjeeling tea.
From Okayti, we have selected two teas that we think stand out.
Husets Nr. 3 Muscatell
This is a beautifully handpicked black second flush tea – the second harvest, which takes place between May and June. It is precisely during this period that Darjeeling teas develop their most characteristic flavour.
Darjeeling is often referred to as the “champagne of teas”, known for its elegant and complex aromas that clearly distinguish it from other black teas. The house’s No. 3 Muscatell is a lovely example of this – rich, fruity and aromatic, with the classic Muscatel character that has made Darjeeling famous worldwide.
The tea has good body and a light tannin character that makes it very good with milk and sugar for those who want it, but it also stands alone. Perfect as a tasty breakfast tea – and absolutely fantastic as iced tea on hot days.
Iced tea à la Leaf Hunters
How to make it:
- Cold brew approx. 25 grams of tea in 1.5 liters of cold water in the refrigerator for approx. 15 hours
- Strain off the tea leaves and season with a little honey or sugar syrup if desired
- Serve with ice cubes
The result is a mild, aromatic and elegant iced tea with natural sweetness and freshness.
Darjeeling Silver Needles
An exclusive white tea made almost exclusively from young shoots picked in early spring. This is a very gently processed tea, which gives a clean and elegant expression in the cup.
The tea offers mild aromas of flowers and wild berries, with a soft and full mouthfeel and a long, pleasant finish. It is lovely to enjoy on its own, but also goes very well with light food such as fresh pastries, chicken or turkey sandwiches.
Silver Needles is naturally rich in antioxidants and contains little caffeine – perfect when you want something light, balanced and refined.
Brewing recommendation
- Temperature: 85–90°C
- Steeping time: 4–5 minutes
- Dosage: approx. 2 grams per 2 dl water
Guranse Estate -Nepal
Hidden beneath the Makalu mountain range in the eastern hills of Nepal, we find Guranse Tea Estate.
Guranse is located at an altitude of between 1067 and 2127 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest tea gardens in the world.
The name Guranse is Nepali and means Rhododendron, a flower that is abundant in the area and is also known as Nepal’s national flower, popularly called Laliguranse.
Guranse estate makes oolong tea, white teas, green teas, handrolled teas, red teas and black teas. We have chosen to include two of them that we were particularly excited about, a delicate white tea – Snow Blossom and a lovely delicate first flush black tea – Handrolled Spring.
Snow Blossom –
At the moment this is perhaps our favorite white tea.
Snow Blossom is a white delicate tea that is gently dried.
This has a lovely scent of citrus and tropical fruits
White tea is naturally rich in antioxidants, and combines pleasure with something good for the body. This tea is perfect on its own when you want a quiet moment, but also works very well with lighter dishes and delicate meals.
Snow Blossom is lovely brewed hot, but also wonderful as a light iced tea on hot summer days, it can either be cold brewed or steeped in the usual way and then put in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Brewing recommendation
• Temperature: 70 – 85 degrees
• Steeping time: 3–5 minutes
• Dosage: approx. 3 grams per 2 dl of water
Handrolled Spring
This is an organic black first flush, i.e. the first harvest. Elegant, fresh and fruity in taste with a delicious scent of citrus and flowers.
Lovely to enjoy alone or with some light food such as a chicken sandwich.
Brewing recommendation
• Temperature: 85 degrees
• Steeping time: about 5 minutes
• Dosage: about 2-3 grams per 2 dl of water
Kawane - Japan
The Kawane area is a traditional tea district in the mountains of Japan. There are records of tea cultivation here dating back to the 1600s, but tea has probably been produced here even longer.
The tea plantations in Kawane are small and specialize in premium class. The areas here have been compared to vineyards in Cote DÓri Burgundy, France, as the plantations are small and produce premium teas of very high quality.
Our selected family-run plantation in this beautiful area of Shizuoka Nouen in Japan produces relatively small quantities of premium tea that are sold quickly after harvest. Our contact person, Mr. Konishi, is a fourth generation tea farmer and carries with him a great heritage.
We have brought in two lovely green teas that in our opinion are some of the best green teas we have tasted.
Sakuramidori Green
This tea has a fresh and fruity taste in the direction of cherries and flowers with a hint of umami.
It is delicious to enjoy alone, but also goes great with sushi.
Brewing recommendation
Temperature: 70 – 80 degrees
Steeping time: about 2-3 minutes
Dosage: 3 grams per 2 dl water
Shizuka Kaori
Elegant, sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and umami and with a light fruity aftertaste.
Also delicious alone as well as with sushi or, for example, salmon burgers/sandwiches.
Brewing recommendation
Temperature: 70 – 80 degrees
Steeping time: about 2-3 minutes
Dosage: 3 grams per 2 dl water
Rohini og Gopaldhara Estate - Darjeeling
These beautiful tea plantations are located in the Mirik Valley in the Darjeeling area. We were lucky enough to visit them in 2025. They extend up to 2000 meters in altitude.
They produce tea of very high quality and deliver many exciting varieties.
They work with modern techniques to ensure clean and delicate flavors. Which means, among other things, very delicate teas.
We have chosen to include:
Darjeeling Rare Muskatell
This is a very rare black second flush tea – the second harvest, which takes place between May and June. It is precisely during this period that Darjeeling teas develop their most characteristic flavour.
This tea is picked from Japanese tea bushes which give slightly different nuances such as spices and a more gentle muscatel touch, almost without bitterness. Perfect for afternoon tea, or anytime you want to enjoy a delicious black tea.
Brewing recommendation
- Temperature: 100 degrees
- Steeping time: 4-5 minutes
- Dosage: 3 grams per 2 dl of water
Awesome Earl
Our own Earl Grey tea. One of the Gopaldhara plantation’s best second flush teas, Gold Thor, is blended with real bergamot oil. This creates a rich and full-bodied Earl Grey variant that is exceptionally elegant.
Brewing recommendation
•Temperature: 85-100 degrees
•Steep time: 3-5 minutes
•Dosage: 3 grams per 2 dl water
Darjeeling Spices
Our own spice tea. Classic Darjeeling tea from Gopaldhara or Rohani is blended with exotic spices. This is strong, but at the same time on the elegant side, almost without bitterness. If you wish, you can add a little sugar or honey.
Brewing recommendation
• Temperature: 100 degrees
• Steep time: 3-5 minutes
• Dosage: 4 grams per 2 dl water
Ex Factor
This is according to the Rohini plantation itself – their very best Darjeeling tea of 2026.
Ex Factor is meticulously crafted from the finest two leaves and one bud, carefully handpicked.
Made from the AV2 clone – is very light, yet different from white tea, and undergoes several oxidation processes.
This Darjeeling tea from 2026 offers a lively and refreshing cup with a silky, creamy texture. The rich, full-bodied taste has delicate notes of vanilla, banana and apple, and maybe you can smell a little honey at the end?
Only 4-6 kg of this is produced and we have secured three kg of these.
Drink it alone, or with a light meal without strong spices. For example, a chicken or cheese sandwich.
Brewing recommendation
- Temperature: 85 degrees
- Steeping time: 4-5 minutes
- Dosage: 3 grams per 2 dl of water
Chai Masala
Our own Chai Masala produced as it is liked in India. Especially strong tea, also called CTC, is mixed with Indian spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, pepper, etc. This is so strong that it should be made with milk and sugar.
Recipe:
Boil water and spiced tea in a pot for a few minutes. If you want an extra kick, you can add freshly grated ginger.
Add equal amounts of milk and boil, preferably several times. Many prefer UHT milk as it gives a fuller taste. Try it out and find out what you like best.
Add cane sugar, many like this quite sweet to get the characteristic taste.
Strain and enjoy.
Dosage: 4 grams per 2 dl liquid
Amba Estate – Sri Lanka
In 2024, we visited a small café in Sri Lanka where we got to taste some of the country’s most renowned teas. One tea stood out. The taste made it impossible to forget – and that’s how we discovered Amba Estate.
Amba Estate is a small, organic tea plantation in the hills outside Ella in Sri Lanka. Here, not only the tea is in the spotlight, but also the people who grow it. Around 100 local families are associated with the plantation, where the workers are guaranteed good wages and working conditions, shorter working days and a more sustainable working life than is usual in the tea industry. Amba also runs a school for the children in the local community and works actively to create long-term opportunities for the families who live there.
The uncompromising quality and philosophy behind the work have earned international recognition. Amba Estate has received the Golden Leaf Award in Australia for the world’s best black tea, as well as the Tea for Life Award in the UK for its work with people and sustainability. The tea is also served at the iconic Fortnum & Mason in London.
All tea leaves are hand-picked – only one leaf and one bud from the fresh top shoots of each tea bush. After a careful drying process, the leaves are further hand-rolled, a traditional method that gives the tea its characteristic depth and complexity.
Amba Handrolled Black
Our Amba Handrolled Black won the Golden Leaf Award in 2021 in the categories “Black Tea Worldwide” and “Feature Country Black”. This is a black tea the way we think it should taste – full-bodied, rich and warm, with distinct notes of malt and spice, balanced by a subtle hint of chocolate in the aroma. The taste is reminiscent of the classic black tea many already know, but with more depth, more character and a silky smooth finish.
The tea is best enjoyed without milk and sugar. Perfect with good sandwiches, pastries – or on its own when you want to treat yourself to an extra quiet moment.
Brewing recommendation
- Temperature: 90 – 100 degrees
- Steeping time: about 5 minutes
- Dosage: about 3-4 grams per 2 dl of water