Silver Tips Imperial is the rarest expression of Makaibari Tea Estate — India's first Demeter Biodynamic certified garden, cultivated without pesticides or synthetic inputs since 1988. Plucked only on full moon nights by specially trained women pluckers, each harvest yields a tiny batch of silvery, needle-shaped buds that are semi-fermented into a luminous Darjeeling oolong of extraordinary character. The dry leaf is a spectacle in itself — long, velvety, silver-tipped buds that unfurl slowly in the cup, releasing a pale golden liquor with delicate notes of soft florals, honey, and gentle muscatel. Moderate in caffeine and naturally calming, it is a tea best savoured in silence — in the evening, or at the close of a long day. One of the highest-priced teas ever produced in India, gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Queen of England in 2015. Certified organic. Certified biodynamic. And certified to change the way you think about tea. How to brew: Use 85–90°C water (not boiling). Add 2g of leaf to 180ml water. Steep 2–3 minutes. The liquor is naturally pale gold — this is correct. The same leaves can be infused 2–3 times. Best enjoyed plain, without milk or sugar, in the evening.