🍃Free shipping over ₹999 · Estate-direct from the Nilgiris since 1994
Forest Brews Tea Company
Unoxidised first-flush green from our estate. Pale gold, grassy, with a Nilgiris sweetness that Chinese greens rarely match.
Nilgiris green tea is a niche product — most of the district's leaf goes into CTC black, so estate-grown green at this elevation is genuinely uncommon. Ours is made from the same first-flush pluck as our black teas but arrested before oxidation: a light pan-fire stops the enzymes within two hours of plucking.
The resulting liquor is pale gold to light green, with a clean grassy aroma, a hint of natural sweetness, and none of the raw bitterness that plagues lower-elevation greens brewed carelessly. Catechin content is higher than most Indian greens because of the altitude.
This is a delicate tea and punishes boiling water and long steeps. Use a temperature of 75–80°C (let boiled water rest two minutes) and steep for no more than three minutes. Two steeps per measure is practical; three is possible.
Origin
Kaircombai, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu — 1,800m elevation
Grade
Light-Fired Green
Weight
100g
Brew Temp
75–80°C
Steep Time
2–3 minutes
Five dimensions scored 0–100 from our cuppers.
Brew Guide
Heat water to 75–80°C (rest boiled water for 2 minutes). Use 2g per 200ml. Steep 2–3 minutes only. Do not add milk. Drink plain or with a slice of lemon.
Temperature
75–80°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.
An Indian green tea I'm actually excited about
I've been disappointed by most Indian greens — they either taste too harsh or too flat. This Nilgiris green is different. The altitude comes through. There's a natural sweetness at the back of the sip, a grassy freshness, no bitterness if you keep the temperature right. I brew it in a glass so I can watch the colour.
Delicate and honest, but needs temperature discipline
If you pour boiling water over this you'll get a bitter cup and think it's the tea's fault — it isn't. Follow the instructions, use 78–80°C water, and you get something beautiful. The 100g feels small for the price but the quality justifies it.
