Collection: Thé noir

These terms describe the size and style of the tea leaves, not the flavor or quality. Orange Pekoe (OP) uses whole, unbroken leaves that are wiry and long. It brews a smoother, more delicate cup with subtle floral and malty notes. This is the one to choose if you enjoy your tea without milk or prefer a lighter, more refined taste.

Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP) uses leaves that have been deliberately broken during processing. The smaller leaf pieces expose more surface area to the water, which means faster extraction and a bolder, stronger brew. If you like a robust morning cup or take your tea with milk, the Broken Orange Pekoe stands up to both.

DRUERA offers both from the same Dimbula growing region, so you're getting the same high-grown quality either way. It comes down to whether you prefer strength or subtlety.

Dimbula sits at 3,500 to 5,000 feet elevation in Sri Lanka's central highlands, making it a "high-grown" tea region with its own distinct character. The altitude matters because tea plants grow slower in cooler temperatures, which concentrates the flavor compounds in the leaves.

What really sets Dimbula apart is its "quality season" from January through March. During this period, cold night winds and crisp days stress the tea bushes just enough to produce leaves with exceptional brightness and complexity. The tea pours a golden-orange color and has a clean, refreshing finish with notes that some describe as jasmine mixed with cypress.

Different sub-regions within Dimbula produce slight variations too. DRUERA sources from this renowned area to give you that signature Dimbula profile: bright, brisk, and aromatic with no heaviness or astringency.

Ceylon black tea is loaded with polyphenols, specifically theaflavins and thearubigins, which form during the oxidation process. These compounds work as antioxidants, helping to neutralize free radicals in your body. Research has linked regular black tea consumption to better heart health, including improved cholesterol levels and blood pressure regulation.

The caffeine content (roughly 40-70mg per cup, depending on how you brew it) combines with L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes calm alertness. This means you get an energy lift without the jitters or crash that coffee sometimes causes. Studies suggest this combination also supports focus and cognitive function.

Ceylon black tea has essentially zero calories when drunk plain, and contains trace minerals like potassium and magnesium. The Sri Lanka Tea Board notes that Ceylon tea is among the cleanest in the world regarding pesticide residues, which means you're getting a purer product. DRUERA ships their Dimbula teas within days of harvest from Ceylon, so the beneficial compounds are at their freshest when they reach you.