As much as we all love sweet, fruity, and exotic flavoured teas, sometimes you just can’t beat a plain cup of black tea. This is my review of Basilur Nuwara Eliya, a single origin black tea from a specific region in Sri Lanka.
You can buy this directly from Basilur or check out the Leaf of Ceylon (which is Sri Lanka, by the way) tea box set on Amazon. Even though it’s offered in tea bags rather than loose leaf, this single origin tea is worthy of a place on your luxury tea shelf.
Nuwara Eliya Tea at a Glance
- Blend: Single origin black tea from the Nuwara Eliya region of Ceylon
- Flavour: Warm and bright black tea with subtle refreshing notes and a bitter aftertaste.
A bright and refreshing tea. It’s not as exceptional as Basilur make it seem with the description, but it’s very pleasant nonetheless. I recommend it as a nice afternoon tea.
Full Review – Basilur Ceylon Single Origin Tea
- Type: Tagged paper filter tea bag
- Tea: Black Tea
- Origin: Nuwara Eliya region, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
- Flavour Notes: Smooth, bright, floral hint, bitter aftertaste
- Aroma: Fresh, bright, tannins, hint of sweetness and floral notes
- Milk or Lemon: Lemon
- Where to Buy: Amazon (Leaf of Ceylon box)
There was some confusion over whether this was a green tea or a black tea. Even though it’s wrapped in a green tea wrapper (like the other green tea in the collection box) this one is actually black tea.
It has a fresh and bright aroma, with the dry leaf suggesting a light and fragrant tea with a hint of sweetness. You’ll be soothed by the dull brown colour of this tea – it’s a comforting shade, I find.
The flavour of Nuwara Eliya is smooth but with notable tannins. It’s halfway between a breakfast tea and an afternoon tea. The warmth and richness of the black tea has a hint of something fresh and floral. The bitterness in the aftertaste grows with time, so watch out for that.
Overall, it’s quite refreshing and has a unique brightness about it. I wouldn’t say it was exceptional, but it’s definitely unique and flavourful.
How to Brew Nuwara Eliya Tea
Basilur’s instructions for Nuwara Eliya black tea are to use 80°C water, instead of the usual boiling water. Make sure you follow this! The slightly cooler water temperature stops that bitter aftertaste from dominating the cup.
I wouldn’t drink this tea with milk as that would squash the subtler notes. Instead, a slice of lemon or half a teaspoon of honey could brighten it further.
As it’s caffeinated, try to avoid drinking it late at night. It would make a good afternoon tea as it has some palate-refreshing qualities.
Why Basilur Leaf of Ceylon?
I like Basilur’s flavours. Sure, their tea bags are not of the highest quality, but they’re always distinguishable. If a supermarket tea brand had put 4 different plain teas in a box, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. But Basilur teas are genuinely single origin and have distinct flavour profiles.
The description on the back of the box is:
“Famed for its light exquisite taste and gentle aroma, Nuwara Eliya teas are grown 6000 feet above sea level which adds the essence of the crispness of the air to its subtle taste. The brewed cup is lighter in colour yet aromatic and often called the Champagne of Ceylon tea.”
I don’t agree with it being good enough to deserve the title ‘Champagne of Ceylon tea’, but it’s certainly a very nice tea nonetheless.
Summary
I do recommend this tea, especially when you get it as part of the Leaf of Ceylon box. It’s great value and allows you to have mini tea tasting sessions at home, trying to detect the individual flavour notes of each tea. This one also makes a great gift for birthdays and Christmas.
Tea Recommendation
Generally, the kind of person that buys a tea collection like Leaf of Ceylon is looking to explore something new – and not just a standard tea bag from the supermarket. That’s my theory, at least. So, if discovering new teas is your thing, then you must look at Teapro! Check out my review of the Teapro Magic subscription box to get started.