We started Alaya in part to showcase the vast diversity of black teas across India, from delicate Darjeelings to super bold Assams from India's Northeast. As one of the world’s largest producers of black tea, India offers a variety of flavors, aromas, and processing methods. While visiting the broad geographies and climates across the region of Darjeeling and state of Assam, we were thrilled to discover black teas that catered to quite possibly every tea drinker. To help you break them down, we've designed Alaya Black Tea Guide, which includes the variety of black teas on our shelf.
Named “Most Eco-Friendly Black Tea” by Bloomberg Green, this classic, full leaf black tea comes from regenerative organic estates in Northeast India, and makes a malty, smooth cuppa. Add a splash of milk and a drop of honey to this brew for ideal sipping.
Darjeeling First Flush leaves are plucked in the first picking of the tea harvest, resulting in a fresh and delicate tea. Known as the “Champagne of Tea”, First Flush is produced in limited quantities and considered the most premium. This tea is crisp, floral, and light, with a moderate to high caffeine content. And while First Flush leaves may look like a green tea, they are technically a black tea due to their processing.
Our most reviewed tea online, Darjeeling Second Flush is heartier than First Flush, but still more floral and lighter, compared to most Assam teas. Second Flush leaves have been on the tea plant for more time than First Flush, thus resulting in a more robust tea leaf. Known for its muscatel flavor and amber-hued color, Darjeeling Second Flush fits the bill if you like a strong floral tea. We like this variety straight up: no milk, no sweetener, all tea.
Pick up a pouch of Assam Black + Ginger if you like your tea milky, spicy, and sweet. Our crush-tear-curl (CTC) black tea is blended with organic ginger. CTC tea is processed using a mechanized method that crushes, tears, and curls the tea leaves into small, uniform pellets. This method enhances the tea’s strength, making it ideal for milk-based brewing such as masala chai. Assam CTC tea is known for its bold flavor, deep color, and briskness, making it a breakfast favorite worldwide. Add crushed cardamom and milk over the stove for an aromatic pot.
Golden Tippy is a more light, honeyed, and refined variety of our traditional Assam Black Tea. Plucked with care, these top shelf tea leaves have a slight golden hue, and are some of the most prized harvest. Our Golden Tippy tea comes from a family-owned, organic estate in Assam.
So what's your ideal cup? If you love a tea that is floral, elegant and delicate, try Darjeeling First Flush. Craving something richer? A Second Flush Darjeeling will delight you with its fruity muscatel notes. Need a strong, bold brew to wake you up? Assam CTC has your back—especially with a dash of milk and sugar. And if you want to savor something truly special, Assam Orthodox or a more rare and unique Assam Golden Tippy will take your taste buds on a journey.
