Mountain Hand Rolled 2022

The Garden

At Lalani & Co, we’re always looking for new origins and unusual teas to bring into our collection, which are the most delicious of their region. This tea comes from Hoolde tea garden in a little-known tea region. It sits at 3,500ft in the foothills of the Himalayas, in a region of India called Himachal Pradesh. Starting at Darjeeling, follow the line of the Himalayas in a north-west direction and you’ll go through Nepal, then back into India, in Himachal Pradesh. Many tea drinkers have never heard of teas form this region as it doesn’t receive the same attention as Darjeeling or even Nepal, yet the flavour of these teas is superb. Hoodle has been in the same family for six generations. We’re really happy to bring this little-known region to you.

This Batch

These leaves were picked early in the 2022 season, on 24th March at 3,500ft from China hybrid varietal plants. The freshly picked tea leaves were withered (wilted) overnight. The next day, the leaves were carefully hand rolled which gives them a light oxidation (browning). Finally, the leaves are dried. The result is a very complex, expressive, light black tea, with excellent flavour structure.

Tasting Notes

This tea is like a delicious symphony of woodland aromas, almost like walking your way through the woods in spring. You can taste the freshness of the air and nature during the early spring when this tea was picked. There are hints of young flowers, unripe fruit, leaves, herbs, and sappy wood, with a touch of minerality in the finish. It’s truly delicious. This is one of the most expressive teas in the collection and one of my personal favourites.

We like this tea infused with 3g:150ml at 80˚C for 3 mins which gives the most balance of all the flavours. Feel free to try other temperatures if you prefer.

Storage and Ageing

Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Surprisingly for a 1st flush tea, this tea ages wonderfully. I expect the ageing curve to last 5 years and suggest buying some to drink now and some to age. As the leaves age, the flavours become more mature and ripe. Overall it becomes looser and more juicy. The tannins soften, the fruit notes ripen, the sweetness increases, and the woody notes become more seasoned. Highly recommended.