What is your relationship with the world of tea
My relationship with the world of tea goes back to my formative years in Darjeeling. My family had been in the industry for years and as a boy I would visit tea gardens with my father for his business dealings. I have great memories of those trips.
What made you launch Teabox
Given my background, I have had great exposure to some very good teas. But in all the time I spent outside India, I never got the same kind of tea. I realised that by the time the tea reaches the end consumer, there is a complete deterioration in its quality. I wanted to do something about it and bring the real freshness of good teas to people across the globe.
Which are your own go-to teas
I have a penchant for mellow Darjeeling black teas and I also love our Kashmiri kahwa and mountain rose. One is a green tea blend, while the other is a black tea-based fragrant blend.
How does one make the perfect cup of tea
Making the perfect cup of tea is serious business but can be quite engaging and enjoyable. Every tea requires different conditions for steeping, and following the given instructions to the T is key. You don&rsquot want to be under- or over-steeping your tea.
How many varieties of tea do you sell What is the most exotic tea available on Teabox at the moment
At Teabox, we have over 150 varieties of tea split into six different major categories&mdash white, green, oolong, black, chai and blends. Our Badamtam Exotic Spring White tea is the most exotic, and it is priced at around 80,000 a kilogram (about $1,500). But, this year we&rsquove also had the rare Seeyok Moonbeam Summer Muscatel, which was made exclusively for Teabox, hand-plucked on the night of the red full moon in June. That one was special it sold out in a week.
What does tea mean to you
For me, tea is a way to connect and express your hopes and aspirations, share ideas, get inspired. It is a tool that keeps me close to home wherever I go and keeps me grounded.
What new offerings do you have in store
We&rsquove just launched matcha in three variants, which is a great addition. Another recent popular one is Blue Amore, a blue pea flower tea. Every season we get new teas and with every festive occasion, there are new blends our tea masters create like the new Diwali collection that is coming up soon.
