India

India is one of the largest tea producers in the world meeting a global demand with exceptional, high quality teas. Three distinct growing regions, Darjeeling, Assam, and Nilgiri produce primarily black teas with unique characteristics from each. If you are looking for Indian tea for sale, whether pure loose leaf teas or spiced Masala Chai, it is helpful to know a bit about the history of tea production in these regions.

In the late 18th century wild tea trees were discovered by British botanists in the jungles of Assam, Camellia assamica. Brewed into black tea for centuries by the local Singphos tribe, once the British got a hold of it, commercial cultivation began. With the first British tea garden established in 1837, Assam tea production quickly grew to meet  demand for strong, bold black tea in cold, rainy England.  

However China still had a monopoly on the tea trade with its long history of cultivation of the more tender and nuanced Camellia sinensis. In a story of 19th century tea espionage, the Brits stole tea plants from China and imported workers with the knowledge to cultivate them, thus establishing the tea gardens of Darjeeling in the steep highlands above Assam and breaking China’s tea trade monopoly. 

Today when you search for Indian tea for sale, you will find that Darjeeling Tea is famous for its distinct muscatel flavors and considered the champagne of teas. Only teas grown in this region can legally be labeled Darjeeling.   

Eventually the British established tea gardens in the highlands of south India, known as  the Nilgiri region, or blue mountains of the Western Ghats. Niligiri quickly became a quality producer of medium grade orange pekoe black tea and the slightly lower grade CTC which is the basis for most spiced tea blends known as Masala Chai. 

You will find the finest quality Indian tea for sale here at Happy Lucky’s Teahouse from all three growing regions and a unique selection of 8 different Masala Chais.