Tea Tasting Session at India’s oldest tea boutique Sancha Tea/Aap Ki Pasand

India’s tea story comes alive in a small New Delhi shop, one cup at a time. At Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery, the Sancha Tea team introduces you to teas from seven Indian growing regions, including Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, and Sikkim. You may taste black, white, and green teas, along with several spiced masala chai blends.

I like the chance to compare teas by region instead of buying a familiar box and guessing what is inside. I also like the relaxed shopping setup: you can ask the tea sommeliers to brew another tea from the shelves, and one Italian reviewer specifically noted that the staff did not pressure anyone to buy. The main consideration is timing. The session lasts about an hour, and the shop operates Monday through Saturday only, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Key points to know before you go

• Taste seven Indian tea regions: Compare the character of Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, Sikkim, and other Indian growing areas.
• Try more than standard black tea: The selection includes white tea, green tea, Ayurvedic herbal teas, and spice-based blends.
• Sample up to 13 teas: The tasting can include a broad flight, depending on what is poured during your visit.
• Learn from Sancha Tea’s tradition: The shop was founded in 1981 by master tea taster and blender Sanjay Kapur.
• Shop for unusual gifts: More than 100 teas are available, including blends with saffron, cardamom, ginger, herbs, flowers, and other spices.
• Plan around the shop hours: The experience runs Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and ends where it begins.

Why this New Delhi tea tasting is worth your time

Tea is one of the easiest ways to understand India’s regional variety. A cup from Assam does not tell the same story as a cup from Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kangra, or Sikkim. The leaves, growing conditions, processing methods, and blending choices all affect what reaches your teacup.

That makes this more useful than a simple tea break. You are not only drinking something warm. You are learning how Indian tea changes from one region to another, then deciding which styles suit your own taste.

The session costs $7 per person, which is a modest price for roughly an hour of guided tasting. The value becomes even better if you enjoy tea, want to bring home edible gifts, or need a break from sightseeing in Old Delhi. You can taste before spending more money in the shop, which helps you avoid buying a large packet of tea that sounds appealing but does not suit you.

The experience is also compact. You do not need to give up half a day, and the meeting point is near public transportation. That makes it easy to fit around a morning in Old Delhi or an afternoon visit to nearby sights.

Entering the original Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery

The tasting takes place at Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery, also identified with Sancha Tea, at 15 Netaji Subhash Marg, opposite Golcha Cinema in Daryaganj. This is the original New Delhi shop associated with the brand, rather than a tea stop arranged in a hotel or restaurant.

The shop was founded in 1981 by Sanjay Kapur, described as a master tea taster and blender. Sancha Tea now has 11 locations across India, but this address gives the experience a clear sense of place. You are visiting a specialist tea shop with a long focus on Indian teas, not a general souvenir store that happens to sell tea.

The setting should appeal to anyone who likes browsing food shops. You can look at tins, packets, and blends while staff explain what is available. The session ends at the same shop, so you can return to a tea you liked and buy it before leaving.

Comparing teas from Darjeeling to Sikkim

The main part of the experience is the tasting itself. The shop offers teas from seven Indian growing regions, with the selection including Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, and Sikkim. The exact order and number of pours may vary, but the tasting can include as many as 13 different teas.

This regional approach is the best reason to book. Instead of treating Indian tea as one broad category, you get a chance to compare its different styles. You can pay attention to color, strength, aroma, and aftertaste, then ask questions about the region and type of leaf.

Darjeeling is among the most familiar names, but the tasting does not stop there. Assam gives you another important point of comparison, while Nilgiri, Kangra, and Sikkim bring less familiar regional choices into the discussion. The experience also includes white teas and green teas, so you are not limited to the black tea for which India is best known.

One useful detail is that staff can brew another tea from the shop’s selection on request. That means you are not limited to a fixed list if a particular style catches your interest. I would use this opportunity to ask for a second cup of the tea you liked most, then compare it with a similar blend before buying.

The masala chai portion adds spice and personality

India’s tea culture is not just about plain leaves. Sancha Tea offers seven masala chai blends made with spices such as saffron, cardamom, and ginger, along with other ingredients associated with the Malabar Spice Coast.

This part of the tasting gives the session a different rhythm. Regional teas help you compare the character of the leaf itself. Masala chai shows how tea changes when spices, herbs, and flowers are added. You may prefer a clean, unflavored tea, or you may find that the spiced blends make the best souvenir.

The blends also make practical gifts. A packet of cardamom or ginger chai is easy to explain to friends at home, and it is more distinctive than a generic tea box. Saffron blends can feel especially special, though you should taste before buying if price matters to you.

The shop also sells Ayurvedic herbal teas for wellness. The important point is to treat these as tea blends and flavor experiences, not as medical treatment. The selection gives you more choices, but the tasting is most useful when you focus on taste, ingredients, and personal preference.

What the staff can teach you in one hour

The session is designed around explanation as well as drinking. The team discusses the types of tea, the regions where the leaves come from, and the differences between them. You can ask about processing, blends, and the ingredients used in the masala chai selection.

Sanjay Kapur’s role gives the shop a strong point of reference. He founded the business and is presented as its master tea taster and blender, while the shop staff and tea sommeliers handle the tasting and brewing. You should not expect a formal lecture with a fixed classroom format. The useful part is the ability to ask direct questions while the teas are in front of you.

That informal format works well for beginners. You do not need to know tea vocabulary before arriving. Taste first, then describe what you notice in ordinary words: light, strong, floral, spicy, bitter, smooth, or sweet. Staff can help connect those impressions to the tea’s region and ingredients.

It also works for experienced tea drinkers who want to explore less familiar Indian styles. The chance to request another brew gives you some freedom beyond the main tasting sequence.

Shopping for more than 100 Indian teas

After the tasting, allow time to browse. The shop carries more than 100 Indian teas and blends, including pure tea, spice blends, herbs, flowers, white tea, green tea, black tea, and masala chai.

This is where the $7 price becomes especially sensible. You can sample several options before deciding what to buy. If you are looking for gifts, you can choose different blends for different people instead of taking home one large quantity of the same tea.

I would make a short note on your phone as you taste. Write down the name or type of each tea you like, especially if you sample a dozen or more cups. Tea names can blur together by the end of an hour, and the shop contains enough choices to make an unplanned purchase confusing.

The staff are also able to brew selected teas from the shelves on the house. Use that service strategically. If you are deciding between a pure tea and a spiced blend, ask to taste both. If you prefer lighter teas, request a white or green option. If you want something strong enough for a morning cup, compare it with an Assam-style tea.

The shopping experience is not meant to pressure you. That matters, particularly in a specialty shop where the range may feel large. You can buy nothing, choose one packet, or stock up on gifts. The choice remains yours.

Timing, location, and group size

The experience lasts approximately one hour. That is enough time for a useful introduction and several tastings, but it is not a long tea education course. If you want to examine every item in the shop, you may need to continue browsing after the formal tasting.

The meeting point is Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery at 15 Netaji Subhash Marg, opposite Golcha Cinema, diagonally across in Daryaganj, New Delhi. The activity ends at the same location. It is near public transportation, which is helpful in a part of the city where traffic and road conditions can affect a short journey.

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is small enough for a shared tasting, though the experience may feel less personal when the group is full. If you want the most time for questions, arrive ready to listen and ask focused questions during the pours.

The shop is open for this activity Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There is no Sunday session listed, so check the day carefully before planning around it. The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation is provided when you book.

Who will enjoy this tea experience most

I would recommend this for tea drinkers, food-focused visitors, and anyone looking for a small New Delhi activity with a strong local connection. It is also a good choice if you want edible souvenirs rather than decorative items.

The tasting suits beginners because you can learn by comparing cups. It suits serious tea fans because the selection reaches beyond the standard black tea choices found in many shops. The masala chai section makes it appealing to people who care more about Indian flavors than tea technique.

Families and mixed-interest groups may also find it manageable because the activity lasts only about an hour. Still, the experience is built around tasting and discussion. If nobody in your group enjoys tea, the session may feel slow.

You should also keep your expectations sensible. This is not a plantation visit, a cooking class, or a tour through India’s tea-growing countryside. You remain in the New Delhi shop, learning about different regions through the teas sold there. That is a limitation, but it is also why the experience fits easily into a city itinerary.

Price, cancellation, and practical booking advice

At $7 per person, the price is low for a guided comparison of Indian teas, especially if you plan to buy something afterward. I consider it good value even if you leave with only a better idea of what you like. The ability to taste before purchasing adds real benefit.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted. The stated policy also allows a new date or full refund if the activity is canceled because of poor weather or because the minimum number of participants is not reached.

The weather condition may seem unusual for an indoor shop visit, so keep it in mind when building a tightly scheduled day. The experience requires a minimum number of participants, which means a cancellation is possible in that situation. If that happens, the provider offers a different date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Sancha Tea tasting?

Book it if you want a short, affordable way to understand Indian tea beyond ordinary masala chai. The strongest features are the regional comparison, the chance to taste as many as 13 teas, and the broad shop selection that includes rare small-batch teas, white teas, green teas, herbal blends, and spice mixes.

I especially like the freedom to ask for another tea to be brewed and the low-pressure approach to shopping. Just remember that the visit takes place in a shop, not at a tea estate, and that the one-hour format cannot cover every detail of Indian tea production.

For tea lovers, food shoppers, and visitors with a spare hour in Daryaganj, this is an easy booking. For anyone who dislikes tea or wants a countryside excursion, spend your time elsewhere.

FAQ

Where does the tea tasting take place?

It takes place at Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery, also identified with Sancha Tea, at 15 Netaji Subhash Marg, opposite Golcha Cinema in Daryaganj, New Delhi.

How long does the experience last?

The tea tasting lasts approximately one hour.

Which teas can I taste?

The selection includes teas from Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, Sikkim, and other Indian growing regions. Black, white, green, herbal, and masala chai blends are available.

Can I try masala chai?

Yes. The shop offers seven masala chai blends using ingredients such as saffron, cardamom, ginger, and other spices.

How many teas might I taste?

The tasting can include up to 13 different teas, depending on the selection served during your visit.

Can I buy tea after the tasting?

Yes. The shop sells more than 100 Indian teas and blends, including pure teas, spices, herbs, flowers, and masala chai combinations.

When is the experience available?

It is available Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The listed activity does not include Sunday hours.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.