Nilgiri Havukal Winter Frost Black

Fresh from the Blue Mountains, this classic Nilgiris speciality radiates tropical-fruity sweetness along with subtle hints of wintergreen.

Size:

100g/3.5oz

100g/3.5oz

SAVE 5%

300g/10.5oz

SAVE 9%

500g/17.5oz

SAVE 12%

1Kg/35oz

Variant

The Story of Havukal Tea Estate

Story

Perched amid the picturesque Blue Mountains of the Nilgiris, Havukal Tea Estate unfolds across serene valleys and eastern-facing slopes at elevations of 5,500–6,000 feet. Shaped by cool mountain air and lingering winter mists, the estate is renowned for its Winter Frost teas—rare seasonal harvests crafted during the coldest months, when nature sharpens clarity, aroma, and finesse in the leaf. Each cup captures the pristine vitality and distinctive elegance of the Nilgiri terroir.

Rooted in a legacy that began in 1910, Havukal blends over a century of tea-growing heritage with thoughtful innovation. Alongside its original plantings, the estate now cultivates modern, high-quality clones such as CR 6017 and TRF 4, all grown with a deep commitment to sustainable and economically responsible practices. This stewardship of land and community ensures that every Winter Frost harvest reflects not just seasonal excellence, but a philosophy of care—delivering teas that honour both tradition and progress.

Why Premium Pricing?

Our prices are premium. We could reduce our prices.
But then, your Tea would not be:

-Ethically sourced from the best estates of India
-Stored in a dehumidified warehouse
-Vacuum-sealed to lock in freshness
-Hand-picked or hand-crafted at origin
-Delivered fresh in a week
-Impacting 3.5 mn tea pluckers

With Teabox you get the best for the cup & the community.🙏

Shipping

Your order undergoes 1 day of processing, and we provide a tracking link once it has shipped. Delivery times vary based on the chosen shipping option:

Express: 5-8 days
Standard: 12-18 days

Since we ship fresh teas from the Himalayan foothills in India that normally cover 10,000+ miles via air, to qualify for free Express shipping, order value thresholds are as follows for these countries.

Australia - 74 AUD
Canada - 64 CAD
Russia - 8,000 RUB
Singapore - 52 SGD
South Korea - 59347 KRW
United Arab Emirates - 148 AED
United Kingdom - 30 GBP
USA - 39 USD

For EU countries, please note that we collect nominal duties and taxes up front (on the checkout), and the price you pay is the landed cost/door-delivery cost. You would not have to pay anything extra.

For other countries, unless specified otherwise at checkout, our terms of trade are 'DAP' (Delivered at Place without payment of duty and taxes of the destination country). Under DAP, the buyer is responsible for paying for the goods, import clearance inspection, import formalities, destination duties and taxes, and providing a complete address with correct contact details. Teabox is responsible for providing the goods with the necessary documentation, arranging pickup, carriage, and door delivery, and handling origin customs formalities.

Freshness Journey

Real fresh teas with transparent evidence of 'where' the tea was manufactured, and 'when' it was manufactured, verified by picking and processing dates

Picked & Processed

16th-17th Feb'26

Arrived at Teabox

Within 24 hrs of manufacturing of the teas at estate, we receive them

18th Feb'26

Sorted & Cleaned

We do hand sorting of the teas to ensure our customers only receive whole leaves and not dust

18th Feb'26

Vacuum Packed

We vacuum pack the teas to ensure freshness and protect it from the 4 enemies (light/heat/moisture/oxygen)

18th Feb'26

Stored for Freshness

Post vacuum packing, the teas are stored in one of its kind cold chain facility in India to ensure the quality is preserved

18th Feb'26

Ready to Ship

Usually delivers within 5-7 Biz Days

19th Feb'26

The Reason Why Your Teas Are Fresh

As the only facility near the source, our close proximity to the estates ensures teas reach within 24-48 hours of production

Harvest

We believe in 100% Transparency of product traceability & its origins

Winter Flush

The season of teas picked between the four flushes(harvests) of the year

Season

SFTGFOP1

Refers to Special Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe One: Simply the best & finest in whole leaf quality

Grade

Frost

Represents the cultivar of the Tea Plant

Speciality

124

Unique Reference Number for this Batch

Invoice

Medium

The amount of Caffeine this tea contains

Caffeine

Certifications

100% Pure & Fresh Nilgiri Tea

Certified by the Tea Board of India under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Nilgiri CTM License No.- NG/002/27042015/E

TEA BOARD OF INDIA LICENCE

NILGIRI CERTIFIED TRADE MARK

With the rise of adulterated Nilgiri teas blended with teas from different regions, it is important to choose an authentic Indian brand. All of our Nilgiri teas, sourced fresh from the gardens, are sold with a Certified Trademark license.

How To Steep

Step 1

Start by heating water in a kettle

Step 2

Measure precise tea leaves for the teapot/infuser.

Step 3

Pour the hot water over the leaves

Step 4

Let it steep for the recommended duration

Step 5

Strain and enjoy sipping your freshly steeped tea.

Steeping Method

5.07fl oz/
150 ml

185°-194°F/
85°C-90°C

2Tsp/2.5g/
0.09oz

5
mins

Steep
Once

Storage Instructions

Store in a cool dry place away from heat, sunlight and moisture. Use an airtight container to minimize contact with O2

Tasting Notes

From our Chief Tea Taster

Aroma

Sweet; marked by notes of white blossoms, hint of herbs, and rain-soaked forest greens

Appearance

Bright Orange

Taste

A lively, light-bodied cup that feels refreshing on the palate, opening with a juicy tropical-fruity character evocative of ripe muskmelon with hints of citrus peel. These sweet-fruity notes gradually deepen as the cup evolves.

Vibrant wintergreen notes entwined with soft floral nuances is discernible mid-palate, lending lift and clarity which however ebb into a clean, lingering fruity finish - a refined expression of winter-frost from this renowned plantation.

YOU ASKED WE ANSWERED

Where is Nilgiris located?

The Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains, are situated in Tamil Nadu in Southern India, with ranges extending into parts of Karnataka and Kerala. Part of the Western Ghats, the region is renowned for its cool climate, rolling hills, and world-class tea estates.

What is the elevation of tea estates in Nilgiris?

Tea estates in the Nilgiris typically range from 1,000 to 2,500 meters (3,280–8,200 feet) above sea level. These high-altitude conditions encourage slower leaf growth, resulting in teas with heightened aroma and clarity.

What is Winter Frost tea?

Winter Frost Tea is a rare seasonal harvest from the Nilgiris, plucked during peak winter. The cold temperatures naturally slow leaf growth, enhancing aromatic intensity, bright fruit character, and a smooth, refined texture.

How is Winter Frost Tea different from regular Nilgiri teas?

Unlike regular harvests, Winter Frost Tea is produced in limited quantities during the coldest months. The slower growth under frost conditions develops greater aromatic lift, enhanced sweetness, and layered complexity.

Does this tea contain caffeine?

Yes. As a tea derived from Camellia sinensis, it naturally contains caffeine. The caffeine level varies depending on leaf grade, processing, and steeping time.

Can I cold brew this tea?

Cold brewing is possible; however, hot steeping best reveals the tea’s full aromatic depth and nuanced character.

How should I store this tea?

Store in an airtight, opaque container away from light, heat, and moisture. If refrigerating, ensure the tea is well sealed to prevent moisture or odor absorption.

Frequently Purchased

A great tea

This is one of India’s great teas, always reliably flavourful. Bright and rounded, slightly astringent, refreshing and revitalising.

Havukal frost tea 2026 - a flavour bomb !

As usual, we couldn’t wait to taste another fresh Nilgiri frost tea and boy did it make an impression:
A flavour explosion in the cup, so typical of a good Nilgiri frost tea. Its not just tasty but also quite powerful, so be careful with the amount of leaves when brewing.
There’s a fine line between a beautiful aroma & bitterness.
You get it right and it is super rewarding. So good, i ordered another lot straight away. I have this kind of tea any day before a high-priced Darjeeling.
It wakes up some memories of days with Darjeelings of that class.
Can’t wait to try the other Nilgiri Frost tea offering. Do yourself a favour 😁

A Charming and Seductive Tea

This tea was wonderful surprise since i didn't know black tea from Nilgiri. A very nice and pleasant tea, - fruity and fresh, but also sweet and full in a quiet way. For others, who maybe don't know this region, - this tea is a 'must try' :-)
Greetings to all from Copenhagen ... BC

Superb

It was a great tea wnd i ordered when it comes on stock frequently

Amazing

TeaBox never disappoints with Super Fast delivery and a quality product lovingly packaged to bring the freshest flavor to my cup. I keep trying different teas. Look forward to many more exciting teas.

first flush teas and oolongs

This tea reminds me of some of the Taiwanese black teas I've had, in particular the subtle honey and fruit notes that suggest a black/oolong hybrid. It's delicious and perfect for those times when an Assam or Ceylon tea might be too strong.

Flavorful and fresh tea

Very fresh tea with subtle floral and forest-green notes.

Superb tea

Superb tea

Very tasty, excellent value for money

Very tasty, slightly bitter but sweet enough to make an absolutely pleasant brew.

🔥

It's not a tea but an experience !

Nilgiri Havukal Winter Frost Black

Freshness Journey

The Reason Why Your Teas Are Fresh

Harvest

Certifications

How To Steep

Tasting Notes

YOU ASKED WE ANSWERED

Frequently Purchased

Customer Reviews