The Vintage Hills

About

The Vintage Hill Teas — Loose Leaf Tea & Masala Chai in India The Vintage Hill Teas is a small-batch Indian tea label working with whole-leaf tea rather than dust and fannings. The range covers single-origin florals (Taiwan osmanthus, Thai jasmine, Persian rose), mint and fruit infusions, caffeine-free blends, and a set of regional masala chais — Royal Bombay, Punjabi, and Bombay Cutting. How to choose loose leaf tea Leaf size tells you the format. Whole leaf brews slowly and can be steeped more than once. CTC and dust brew fast and strong, which is what you want in a milk chai but not in a delicate green. Caffeine. Green, oolong, white and black teas all come from Camellia sinensis and contain caffeine. Rose, mint, chamomile and fruit infusions are herbal and caffeine-free — the pack should state which it is. Water temperature matters more than steeping time. Roughly 70–80°C for green and white, 85–90°C for oolong, and full boil for black tea and chai. Boiling water on green tea is the usual cause of bitterness. Flavoured or botanical. Check whether aroma comes from actual dried petals and spices in the blend or from added flavouring. Both are legitimate; the ingredient list will say. Storage. Keep tea in an opaque airtight tin away from spices. Whole leaf holds its aroma for about a year. All blends here are vegan, and a reusable cotton tea bag and telescopic brass infuser are stocked alongside them if you are moving away from disposable bags. Browse related ranges: Masala Chai & Tea , Beverages and Lluvia Tea . Delivered pan-India in 3–5 days.