Reviewed by
Evelyn
There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of indulging in some high-quality tea and The Tea Estate Box from High Teas is a must-try for anyone who enjoys trying out exquisite teas. Described as the “ultimate tea subscription box for lovers of pure, great tasting unadulterated tea”, this London based company was founded in 1997 and specialises in selecting the finest teas which are never blended and free from any additional flavourings.
Each month, you’ll receive four different types of estate teas to enjoy and I have one of their Mini Estate Tea Boxes (a total of 120g of tea vs the Maxi box which is 240g) to show you so that you can get a good idea of what to expect.
The box itself is slim and fits easily through my letterbox. Inside I found the following:-
Keemun Hao Ya-A (30g)
The first tea that I tried is called Keemun Hao Ya-A which is a Black Tea from China. The Chinese call in Gong Fu Tea which means ‘great labour’ because this tea requires a lot of work to produce and thus, is quite a rare tea to be able to try. Described as complex and subtle, it has a full-body with delicious oaky notes. I was surprised to learn that many people think Keemun Hao Ya-A is similar to hot toast with jam taste-wise, but actually, I think they’re right! It does have a sweet, bakery type of taste to it which is really scrumptious and works incredibly well as a breakfast tea.
Nilgiri Tiger Hill (30g)
Sourced from one of the most renowned tea estates in the world that’s found in the Nilgiri Mountains in the most Western part of Tamil Nadu in Southern India, Tiger Hill is a truly exceptional black tea. Bursting full of flavour, it has floral-like notes that are completely different from any other type of tea that I have tried before. It’s the kind that can be enjoyed at any time of the day and is delicious to just sip slowly whilst you’re reading a good book.
Assam Gingia (30g)
Assam teas are one of the most popular types in the world, so when I saw that High Teas have described this as ‘one of the nicest Assams available’, I was quite curious to try it. They weren’t wrong either – this Assam Gingia has a rich and malty flavour with a full body and classic thickness. If you enjoy drinking Assam teas, you must try this one! It’s delicious to drink on its own and is my personal favourite out of this selection of teas.
Darjeeling Monteviot (30g)
The last tea in this box is another fine Black Tea, this time from the famous Darjeeling area. Located north of the Kurseong Valley, Monteviot is a family owned garden which was founded in 1856 and it still produces teas that are grown organically and encourage biodynamic principles. This tea is full-bodied with slightly spicy notes and is recommended for relaxed afternoon drinking. I absolutely loved this one!
Earl Grey Reserve
As an extra bonus, there’s a sample pouch of Earl Grey Reserve which is sourced from the Nuwara Eliya region in Sri Lanka. I’m not usually a big drinker of Earl Grey but this particular blend is really unusual but still embodies the classic hallmarks of Earl Grey that a lot of people love.
With your first subscription box, you’ll also receive a free stainless steel Tea Spoon which allows you to perfectly measure out a serving of tea for one cup, and for Maxi Estate and prepaid orders, you’ll receive a free Tea Infuser.
