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Arthibala (Forest Brews)
Arthibala Silver — our workhorse CTC dust, the grade trusted by South Indian tea stalls for a strong, opaque cup.
Arthibala is our in-house brand for the CTC dust grade, the same leaf supplied to commercial clients including 2 Roses Tea and Aaladipattiyan Tea. Packaged under the Arthibala label for direct retail, it gives home buyers access to trade-quality leaf at honest prices.
CTC dust brews fast and strong — three minutes in boiling water or a quick simmer with milk gives you the thick, tannin-forward cup that is the backbone of every South Indian tea shop from Ooty to Chennai. This is not a subtle tea; it is meant to be robust.
The Silver grade is our standard CTC, milled to a uniform particle size for consistent extraction. If you run a canteen, small hotel, or simply brew for a large family, Arthibala Silver is the most cost-effective way to pour good Nilgiris tea every day.
Origin
Kaircombai, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
Grade
CTC Dust
Weight
500g
Brew Temp
95–100°C
Steep Time
2–3 minutes
Five dimensions scored 0–100 from our cuppers.
Brew Guide
Use 2–3g per 200ml. Boil water to 100°C. Steep 2–3 minutes. Strain firmly. Excellent with or without milk — both yield a deep colour.
Temperature
95–100°C
Steep Time
2–3 minutes
Select a brew style and number of cups — we’ll give you exact quantities.
Full-fat milk: 300ml — add after initial water steep. Total liquid per cup ≈ 250ml.
South Indian Kadak — Method
Simmer leaf in water first, add 150ml full-fat milk, simmer again. Strain firmly. Sweeten with jaggery. Thick, dark, strong — the classic canteen cup.
Tea stall owners will understand
I run a small tea stall near the bus stand. Finding estate-quality CTC dust at a fair price has always been difficult — the good stuff goes to big buyers. Arthibala Silver changed that for me. My regulars noticed the difference within a week.
Proper strong tea for South Indian mornings
If you want a delicate flavoured tea, look elsewhere. If you want a punchy, dark-liquoring cup that wakes you up and pairs with idli-sambar at 6am, this is your tea. Exactly what CTC from the Nilgiris should taste like.
