Russian Caravan Tea
Origin
China, Taiwan, IndiaFlavour Notes
Fruity, Smoky
The Tea
Russian Caravan is one of the most distinctive offerings on the H. R. Higgins list.
Russia’s love affair with tea is believed to have started in around 1618, when Tsar Michael received a gift from the Mongolian leader Altyan-Kahn.
After many disputes, a common border was established and regular trade between the two countries began with a designated place for the transfer of tea to take place.
At the height of its popularity, six camel loads of tea a year were being drunk in Russia by the end of the eighteenth century. The Camel Trains formed Caravans which transported the tea over eleven thousand miles overland in exchange for furs.
With the introduction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, the time taken from Mongolia to Russia was hugely reduced. However, the swifter transit caused a change to the flavour of tea. It no longer had that special quality the tea lovers so enjoyed.
The suggestion was that the smoke from the camp fires lit by the caravan drivers on the long journey had perhaps contributed to the distinctive flavour of the tea that the Russians had so enjoyed.
A new blend was created to replicate the tea that had started their love affair with the product. And so Caravan Tea was born.
Our Russian Caravan Tea is fragrant and full bodied flavour with a fruity mellowness and just a very little hint of smokiness.
Recommended brew method
Coffee & Culture on Mount Street
Since 1942, H.R.Higgins has been part of Mayfair’s story. From our shop on Duke Street, just a few steps from Mount Street, we have welcomed generations of customers in search of something exceptional. Next week, that story continues as we take part in the Mount Street Arts Festival, running from 13 to 18 October 2025.
International Coffee Day: A Story That Continues
“At its beginning H.R.Higgins (Coffee-man) had to be wholesale only because, as my father says in his diary, you couldn’t expect retail customers to climb up five flights of stairs.”
Introducing Our Pyramid Tea Boxes
Our new pyramid tea boxes bring the same whole leaf quality you expect from our loose-leaf range, now in a form that combines elegance with ease. Beautifully boxed and perfect for gifting, travel, or refilling at home, they offer a timeless way to enjoy both classics and favourites.
