The seasons · Harvest calendar
Tea in eastern Nepal is not harvested once a year. The bushes are plucked again and again from spring to late autumn, and each season gives a different tea.
First flush (March – April)
The first tender shoots after winter rest. Teas are light, bright and floral, with a pale golden cup. The most sought-after harvest of the year.
Second flush (May – June)
Warmer days bring fuller leaves and a richer flavour: ripe fruit, honey, and in the best lots the famous “muscatel” note.
Monsoon flush (July – September)
Rain brings fast growth and plenty of leaf. Monsoon teas are bold and strong, perfect for everyday milk tea and Nepali chiya.
Autumn flush (October – November)
As the air turns cool and dry, growth slows. Autumn teas are smooth, mellow and rounded, with notes of malt and baked fruit.
Winter rest (December – February)
The bushes go dormant and gather strength for the next spring.