Nepal Ilam
· Himalayan Tea
Black
In 1863 the Chinese emperor sent tea saplings to Nepal's prime minister as a gift, and they were planted at Ilam.
The ridge sits just over the border from Darjeeling and shares the same thin cold air, so the tea runs the same way, lighter but clearly related. For a century it stayed a hill secret, because Nepal had no factories and sold its leaf across the border to be finished and sold as something else.
Only recently has it been finished at home under its own name. It is nutty and floral with a hint of muscatel, and a mineral sweetness that comes from the height.
- muscatel
- nutty
- mineral
- Origin
- Ilam, Nepal
- Water
- 93°C / 199°F
- Ratio
- 5 g / 100 ml
- Caffeine
- Medium
- Rinse
- Not needed
Nepal flagship (Ilam district)
How much leaf
Gong fu brewing is leaf-heavy and short. Set your gaiwan or pot size and this is what to weigh out.
Vessel volume
100 ml
Recommended dose
Use ~5.0g of tea
The session
6 infusions, about 3m 5s of total contact time.
- Steep 115sA high thin note, waking.
- Steep 220sA high thin sweetness, waking.
- Steep 325sNutty warmth rounds the cup.
- Steep 430sA muscatel hint drifts through.
- Steep 540sFloral brightness lifts the body.
- Steep 655sMineral sweetness settles clean.
Also sold as
Ilam, Nepal Tea, Ilam Black
Steaper times this session for you
A countdown per infusion, a gong when each one is up, and the whole library in your pocket. Coming to iPhone.
Get notified at launchThese numbers are a median of independent gong fu sources, not a law. Leaf age, vessel and water all move them. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.