Each grade is defined by leaf size, picking position, cultivar lot, and the specific harvest window it came from. Nothing is blended. Everything is traceable to the chest it came from.
All orthodox-processed. All from the same estate. Listed in order of intensity, from our everyday Estate Black through to the Lot Reserve micro-lots.
Robust, malty, structured. Our everyday black tea, milled to a consistent medium leaf. Holds up to milk, performs well in blends that aren't ours.
Smooth, balanced, crisp finish. A medium-leaf grade picked from the higher rows of the estate. Cleaner body than the Estate Black, suitable for straight service.
Aromatic, bright, refreshing. Lighter-bodied than the Highland Reserve, with a more fragrant aroma. Best for afternoon service and lighter food pairings.
Silky texture, stone fruit, honey. Large, intact leaves rolled whole, never broken. Requires a longer brew but rewards with a layered, tannin-soft cup.
Complex, floral, lingering sweetness. Our flagship. The Azerbaijan-4 cultivar picked only during peak harvest windows (H4–H8). Allocated rather than sold open.
Nectar-like, zero astringency. Tippy golden buds picked from the first three harvest windows of the season. A delicate, honeyed cup with almost no tannin.
Unique micro-lot snapshots. One lot, one harvest, one chest at a time. Characteristics vary by year. Limited to buyers with a standing allocation.
The grades move along two axes. The first is leaf size — from tightly rolled medium leaf in the Estate Black to intact whole leaf in the Silk Leaf. The second is picking position and window — first flush, peak season, and late summer pickings each carry a distinct chemistry.
The Azerbaijan-2 cultivar supplies our everyday range. The Azerbaijan-4 cultivar, slower-growing and lower-yielding, is reserved for Seçmə and for selected Naqqash №1 lots. Buyers who want a consistent house blend should commit to one grade per season. Buyers exploring micro-lot programmes should ask about Naqqash №1.
Order a taster box with all seven grades. $55 for a five-tea selection, $69 for the full seven. Credited against your first wholesale order.