Tisane, Gongfu, infusions: Every cup tells a story. Come, have a sip

Kolkata’s tea tasting sessions are turning the everyday cup into an experience worth savouring. Far beyond a simple brew, tea turns into a sensory, cultural and wellness ritual that encourages you to slow down. CT attended three such sessions and discovered that your every cup tells a story shaped by its origin, season and the care of the tea maker. Join a session and experience these moments of calm and flavour, yourself.Kolkata’s tea tasting sessions are turning the everyday cup into an experience worth savouring. Far beyond a simple brew, tea turns into a sensory, cultural and wellness ritual that encourages you to slow down. CT attended three such sessions and discovered that your every cup tells a story shaped by its origin, season and the care of the tea maker. Join a session and experience these moments of calm and flavour, yourself.

Step by step through tea tasting

Tea leaves being roasted with rice for added flavour

A key part of these sessions is the careful progression of teas. “The basic principle is to start with lighter teas like white or green, then move to Darjeeling first flush, Golden Needle, Oolong, hand-rolled smoky teas, and finish with flavoured teas like Malt and Yogi,” explains Neil Law, tea master at Dzomsa. Each step prepares your palate for the next, letting you savour every subtle note. First flush teas are delicate and floral, monsoon flush teas are richer, and autumn or second flush teas are full-bodied and malty. The journey from light to strong lets you explore the evolution of flavour, aroma and the craft of the tea maker.

Savour every sip
Beyond flavour, tea tasting cultivates awareness and presence. Pooja Majumder, tea curator and tea master at Jay Shree Tea, says, “These sessions teach us to appreciate the small things, including what we label as imperfections.” Handmade teaware reflects this. “Someone may say a cup is uneven, but if it serves its purpose, why call it imperfect? It does exactly what it is meant to do. That makes it full of potential.” Participants drink mindfully, inhaling aroma, sipping slowly, and pausing. “This technique uses higher leaf-to-water ratio, smaller teapots, and cups, letting tea’s evolving aroma and taste be appreciated through each steep,” explains the master.

Stories in a cup
Every tea carries a story, from its land, the hands that nurture it, to the tradition behind it. Neil shares, “The Gobuk orthodox tea from Arunachal Pradesh is a fascinating brew I serve. The village headman plucks the leaves himself and makes the tea with love. That care and passion are evident in every sip, it’s not just tea, it’s an experience.” Barnamala Roy says, “Since there were only three of us, the session felt calming. I loved how it moved from lighter to stronger teas.” Kunal Mandal adds, “Brewing my own cup was eye-opening.”

From hot to chilled

A tea tasting session at the Makaibari Bungalow. When pouring, pour the brew into each cup in rounds to distribute the flavours evenly

African rose tea

Tea is no longer just a hot cup. One can even try nitrogen infused teas for a creamy milky texture or CO2 treated brews with a sparkling bite. At the Makaibari Bungalow, chilled teas come straight from the tap in shot glasses, some spiced with peach, mint or cinnamon, others smoked over pinewood for an intense finish. “Tea tasting sessions offer a great way to explore tea through aroma, texture and origin, as guests sample estate teas and learn to observe, smell & sip mindfully,” says Luxmi Tea MD Rudra Chatterjee.



What are the other types of tea sessions?
Gongfu Ceremony: Precision brewing with multiple short infusions
High-tea: Casual, social tasting with snacks or desserts
Single-origin tasting: Explore teas from estates in Darjeeling, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and more
Flavoured teas: Sample Yogi, Malt, Earl Grey, chai blends
Wellness & herbal: Focus on health benefits & mindful sipping
Seasonal flush: Compare first flush, monsoon, and autumn flush
Interactive session: Learn brewing methods, leaf-to-water ratios

7-8 times a single tea leaf can be brewed for each to unlock new flavours Models: Hrittika Guha, Piyush Mishra & Hrilina Majumder

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