Indian Tea
A Maharaja Drinks Guide by Ipe Jacob, Co-founder
Good tea starts with leaf quality, water temperature, timing and care.
In India, tea carries agriculture, craft, memory and daily habit. But convenience has changed how many people drink it. Tea bags became the default, herbal infusions were grouped with true tea, over-brewing became normal and freshness became an afterthought.
At Maharaja Drinks, we believe tea deserves better. Here’s what every tea drinker should know.
Tea Bags vs. Whole Leaf Tea
Let’s start with the uncomfortable truth: most tea bags contain tea dust.
Tea dust is left after larger leaves are processed. Because the pieces are so small, they infuse quickly. That can make the cup harsh, flat or bitter. You get speed instead of depth.
Whole leaf tea uses whole leaves or larger cut leaves. As they brew, the leaves open and release flavour more slowly. The cup is clearer, more aromatic and more textured.
If you care about how your tea tastes, loose leaf tea should be the starting point.
Tea Comes From One Plant
All true tea, including black, green, white and oolong, comes from Camellia sinensis.
The differences in colour, aroma, body and flavour come from processing. Oxidation, rolling, drying and firing change the leaf after it is picked.
Chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus, rooibos, and other “herbal teas” are not technically tea. They are infusions or tisanes: brewed herbs, flowers, fruits, or roots. Delicious? Often. Tea? No.
True tea comes from the tea plant. Everything else is an infusion.
The Four Great Tea Regions of India
India produces some of the most distinctive teas in the world. Four regions are central to that story, and they are directly connected to the gardens we source from.
Assam
Assam teas are grown in the fertile Brahmaputra Valley. They are known for a malty, full-bodied cup with strength and depth.
At Maharaja Drinks, our Whole Leaf Orthodox tea from Kolony is chosen for richness without harshness. It’s a structured, warming tea with notes of malt, honey and dried fruit. It has enough presence to drink on its own, and enough body to take a little milk, if you must.
Darjeeling
Often called the “Champagne of Teas,” Darjeeling produces light, floral, muscatel teas with remarkable delicacy.
Our Darjeeling teas highlight seasonal character. Glenburn’s First Flush is made from tender shoots picked at the start of spring. It is bright and lifted. Autumn Crescendo is picked at the end of the harvest in November, giving a more rounded, full-bodied cup.
These are expressive, high-altitude teas that reward careful brewing and attention.
Kangra
Kangra teas come from the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh. They are smooth and subtly sweet, with a soft aroma.
The Wah estate teas in our collection are refined and balanced, with gentle florals and soft vegetal notes, plus a clean, lingering finish. Try the semi-oxidised Kangra Oolong or the light, delicate White Peony. Both are an excellent introduction to more nuanced Indian teas.
Nilgiris
Our Nilgiri teas are selected for their clarity and versatility. Lively, aromatic cups with citrus lift and a smooth body. They perform beautifully across multiple infusions and are particularly forgiving to brew.
Try the award winning Muskan’s yellow-green Nilgiri Bamboo (which has no bamboo in it! It’s a reference to the unique rolled shape) or her herbaceous Nilgiri Platinum Needles (you guessed it: no platinum and no needles!).
Each region expresses terroir: soil, altitude and climate. Just like fine wine. At Maharaja Drinks, our role is simply to honour that expression and bring it to you without compromise.
A Note on Chai
It would be impossible to talk about tea in India without mentioning chai.
In India, “chai” simply means tea. But in everyday use, it refers to masala chai: black tea brewed with milk, sugar, or often with just sweet condensed milk, and spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, or black pepper.
Unlike the delicate leaf teas discussed above, chai is intentionally robust. It is typically made using strong Assam tea, simmered rather than gently infused, designed to carry spice and richness. It is social, ubiquitous, and deeply woven into daily life. It is served at roadside stalls, in homes, on trains, and in workplaces across the country.
Chai is not about subtlety but about comfort, energy, and warmth.
At Maharaja Drinks, we see chai and fine leaf tea not as contradictions, but as different traditions. One celebrates boldness and familiarity; the other highlights nuance and origin. Both have their place. As long as the quality of the tea itself is respected.
Great Tea Deserves Respectful Brewing
One of the most common mistakes is over-brewing.
Yes, different teas have different ideal temperatures and timings.
- Greens prefer cooler water.
- Blacks can tolerate hotter water.
- Whites are delicate.
- Oolongs sit somewhere in between.
But if you want a safe rule of thumb:
Never use boiling water. Never brew for more than a couple of minutes.
Boiling water scorches the leaves. Long brewing extracts bitterness and astringency. Really good tea never needs stewing.
With practice, the colour and aroma of the brew can guide you as much as a thermometer or stopwatch.
Good tea should taste alive, bright and layered, with a clean finish. It shouldn’t taste harsh or tannic.
You Can Brew Many Leaf Teas More Than Once
High-quality loose leaf tea can often be brewed multiple times.
The first infusion reveals one character. The second may be softer, rounder, sometimes even sweeter. With exceptional teas, a third infusion can surprise you entirely.
Tea is not a single-use product. When made well, it unfolds gradually.
Taste Before Adding Milk or Sugar
This may be controversial.
Milk and sugar mask flavour. They were historically added to compensate for low-grade, over-brewed tea. Decent tea does not need correction.
If your tea requires sugar to be enjoyable, check the leaf quality, freshness, water temperature and brewing time. When you drink good leaf tea properly brewed, it stands on its own: balanced, aromatic, complex.
Let the tea speak.
A Return to Real Tea
Tea is simple, but not simplistic. It is agricultural craftsmanship, shaped by region, processed with intention, brewed with care.
At Maharaja Drinks, we believe in respecting the leaf and the bud, from the gardens of Assam, Darjeeling, Kangra, and the Nilgiris to the cup in your hand.
Drink better tea. Brew it gently. Taste it properly.
And never settle for dust in a bag again.
