Mint (Pudina) Green Tea

Nilgiris peppermint — cultivated at altitude in the upper plateau, primarily around Kodanad — is among the highest-menthol varieties grown in India. The cold nights that slow tea bush growth have a similar effect on mint: slower growth, higher concentration of essential oils, and a clean, sharp coolness that persists on the palate for minutes after the sip. We blend our Kaircombai first-flush green with dried Nilgiris peppermint leaf at a ratio that gives clear mint presence without overpowering the tea underneath.

The menthol in the mint interacts with the L-theanine in the green tea to produce a uniquely refreshing alertness — the cooling sensation of the mint combining with the calm focus that L-theanine promotes. This makes it an excellent mid-afternoon pick-me-up that avoids the caffeine spike of a black tea while still delivering genuine mental clarity. It is also one of the most effective post-meal cups we know: peppermint’s well-documented effect on gastric motility makes it a natural digestif that the green tea base complements rather than undermines.

Brewed hot, it is a bright, pale-green liquor with an immediate mint aroma and a clean green tea finish. Brewed for four minutes and strained over ice, it is one of the best summer iced teas we have found — naturally sweet enough not to need sugar, cooling on contact, and as visually appealing in a glass as it is to drink.