Tea Culture of the World

Tea Culture of the World was founded in Mumbai in 2010 by Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar, and it has grown into a range of some 120 teas sourced from India, Japan, China, Vietnam and South Africa. What it does not have is a shop of its own. You find it at counters inside Nature's Basket — the Bandra West one sits on Hill Road, next to Bank of India — and at Juhu, Powai, Andheri West, Goregaon, Malad, Mahalaxmi, Chembur, Mulund and Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla.

The loose leaf is packed in 50, 100 and 200 g pouches, and 50 g is the step almost everything starts at. The Indian side covers an Assam Leaf, a Darjeeling second flush and an English Breakfast, the cheapest of the lot; the Japanese one, a sencha. From China come a Mt. Wuyi oolong and a pu'er, from Fujian a Silver Needle that is the priciest pouch here, and from South Africa a rooibos. The ceremonial matcha is the only thing sold in 25 g.

Alongside the loose leaf the brand sells tea bags, instant iced teas in peach and apricot, lemon and raw mango, infusers and other accessories, gift sets and corporate hampers. It says it buys from Fairtrade-certified producers and packs in biodegradable or recyclable materials rather than plastic. If the counter nearest you is out of something, the online shop carries the full range: orders placed before 5 pm are dispatched within 24 hours and reach anywhere in India in two to seven days.