I gave it five stars on its own merit, after brewing my first cup of Old Hat Nilgiri First Flush. The dry leaves in the bag smell nice. Not intense. But, pleasant with a slight reddish tint. Mine is the Spring 2025 harvest. I over-steeped it intentionally, because I like a fairly deep/dark black tea. This did not disappoint. I would say it was rich and flavorful, without being overwhelming. Even with extended steeping (aprox. 10 minutes) the drink did not become bitter or harsh. This is a very forgiving tea. Even in the first minute of the steep, when I took my first sip, this gave me the pleasant "rush" I hope for from a black tea - a calm caffeine hit. I ordered this along with the Seafarer. I would rank this as decidedly higher-quality, stronger, more flavorful, and distinct. This makes a better breakfast tea than the Seafarer, which is far milder. Old Hat does have a medium body and noticeable mouthfeel. It is not heavy. This tea stands on its own. A quality black tea. Leaves are finer than the Seafarer. Which is not surprising since this is picked from new growth and Seafarer from more mature leaves. I would recommend this as a nice step up and a mid grade tea. I am surprised at the lack of reviews on this one. I certainly recommend you give it a try. I bought 4 ounces and look forward to drinking this into the new year!
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You know what you’re getting. Medium-bodied tea with a brisk mouthfeel, subtle citrus character and soft finish. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you just need it to be true.
Old Hat is a GFOP leaf grade produced at the Glenfern Estate, Nilgiri, India, in the spring of 2026.
Ingredients: black tea
Suggested Steeping
3 grams | 10-12 oz water | 212°F | Steep 3 min.
Iced Tea Instructions
4 grams | 10-12 oz water | 212°F | Steep 3 min. | Pour over ice
Number of Cups
2 oz makes 19 cups, 4 oz makes 38 cups, 1 lb makes 151 cups
Ingredients
Steeping Instructions
Western Steeping Method
Steep 3 grams of tea in 10–12 oz of 212°F (100°C) water for 3 minutes.
Approximate Cups of Tea per Package
This estimate is based on the recommended steeping instructions for this tea. Actual yield will vary depending on your steeping method and personal preference.