The grand snow-capped mountains, the slow-growing leaves for their refined flavors, and the monsoon season's special touch? You would be amazed to explore the farm where this tea was handcrafted! The Bhakanje Tea Estate is a young project, founded in 2019 by the Himalayan Project Nepal (HIPRON), a non-profit focused on helping the Solukhumbu community thrives. This co-operative model tea estate organizes over 40 farmers and their farms who operate every day to deliver the freshest batch of tea leaves to the tea estate. They heavily prioritize a fair trade policy catered to provide well for all their farmers. The farms affiliated with the estate are a network of small, individually-owned farms scattered across elevations ranging from 1800 meters to 2678 meters above sea level.

The tea estate's heart; the production factory is situated at an elevation of 2450 meters. This elevation playground has helped the Bhakanje Tea Estate to produce extraordinary teas like our Everest Black Tea. During harvest season, these dedicated farmers deliver their leaves daily to the central factory. There, the magic happens! Harvests are carefully blended, transforming them into extraordinary teas.

Black Tea | Golden Tips (Camellia Sinensis)

Unlike most black teas known for their robust character, Everest Black Tea offers a unique twist with its monsoon flush. This particular harvest, meticulously hand-picked during Nepal's rainy season, yields a surprisingly mild and stress-relieving cup. The monsoon shrinks the growing time of the leaves to just 10 days, compared to the usual 2-week wait for other flushes. While the constant downpour might seem harmful to the leaves, it plays a crucial role in shaping the tea's character. The monsoon rains cause the tea leaves to grow thinner.

Withering involves drying the leaves in a controlled environment to reduce moisture content and initiate oxidation, a crucial step in black tea production. By extending the withering process for the monsoon flush, the tea masters ensure the remaining flavors within the thinner leaves are concentrated. This meticulous attention to detail during a challenging harvest period results in a unique Everest Black Tea experience.

With the expertise of the tea makers at Bhakanje Tea Estate, they can transform even the most challenging conditions, like relentless rain and the notorious monsoon leeches, into truly exceptional tea.

In the heart of Solukhumbu, Janaki Khadka's journey began in 1998 with the Himalayan Project Nepal (HIPRON), uplifting her community and pioneering change. As the sole female tea maker and now factory manager, her Everest Black Tea now graces the shelves of Nepal Tea Collective. This tea embodies the spirit of Solukhumbu's highest peaks in every sip. This International Women's Month, we celebrate Janaki's mastery with Everest Black: Top of the World Tea.

This tea is perfect for those who appreciate a brisk black tea but prefer a smoother experience without the higher astringency. It's designed for individuals who seek a robust and invigorating cup, yet desire a balanced flavor profile that is rich and full-bodied without being overly sharp or bitter. It is ideal for discerning tea drinkers who enjoy depth and complexity without sacrificing comfort and ease of drinking.