If you like tea, this is a solid stop in Delhi. At Sancha Tea / Aap Ki Pasand, run by Master Tea Taster and blender Mr Sanjay Kapur, you taste Indian teas across multiple regions and learn what changes the flavor. I love how the session is built around comparing the leaves by origin, not just drinking whatever’s poured.

I also like the friendly, low-pressure pace: you sit with the staff, try plenty of teas, and you can ask the sommeliers to brew options from the shop. The only possible drawback is that it’s about one hour, so if you want a long, slow tasting and deep shopping time, you may need to come back after.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• Master tea guidance: Mr Sanjay Kapur’s team focuses on tasting with real explanations.
• Seven Indian tea regions: Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Sikkim, Kangra, plus white/green options.
• Masala chai with real spices: blends using saffron, cardamom, ginger, and Malabar Spice Coast flavors.
• Brew-at-the-counter flexibility: ask sommeliers to brew a tea from the store on the house.
• Small group feel: maximum of 20 people keeps things relaxed.

Stepping Into Aap Ki Pasand: An Old-Style Tea Shop With a Modern Tasting Mindset

This is the kind of place where tea is treated like something you can learn, not just something you can drink quickly. Sancha Tea / Aap Ki Pasand presents itself as India’s oldest tea boutique, founded in 1981 and tied to Master Tea Taster and blender Mr Sanjay Kapur. That matters because it shapes the vibe: the staff isn’t trying to rush you through a generic flight.

Instead, you’re encouraged to pay attention. The experience is set up so you taste across styles and regions, and then connect what you’re tasting to where the tea comes from. You’ll see a shop built for browsing too, with a lot of Indian teas and blends available for purchase.

And yes, it’s also a “come in, take your time” shop. The pricing is low enough that you’re not stuck feeling like you must buy something. In practice, that makes it easier to treat the tasting like research for your next tea stash at home.

The One-Hour Tea Flight: What You’ll Do and How to Get More Out of It

The tasting runs about 1 hour. That hour is the main reason this works well for a day in Delhi. You don’t need half your afternoon, and you don’t have to commit to a full tour day.

Here’s what you can expect to experience during that hour:

• You walk in at Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery (Sancha Tea), take your seat with other guests, and start tasting.
• You sample teas from multiple Indian regions, plus different tea styles such as black, white, and green.
• You’re offered the chance to learn about the leaves, the growing areas, and how brewing and blending affect flavor.
• You can browse and buy if you want, including gift options.

What’s worth knowing: the hour is short, so you’ll get the best results if you pick a simple approach. I recommend you taste with a quick mental checklist:

1) aroma first,

2) first sip,

3) finish (how it changes after a few seconds),

4) how it compares to the last cup.

If you do that, you’ll notice patterns fast—especially when you go from one region to another, or from plain tea to masala chai.

Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Sikkim, Kangra: Why Origin Matters More Than You Think

The heart of the experience is tasting Indian teas from several regions. You’ll get exposure to Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Sikkim, and Kangra, and you’ll also learn that India’s tea growing areas are distinct enough that the tea can taste noticeably different.

Think of it like comparing coffees, but the variables are different:

• Darjeeling often comes with a distinct character you can recognize once you’ve compared it to other black teas.
• Assam is a classic reference point for what many people think of when they picture strong black tea.
• Nilgiri brings another flavor angle that’s useful for widening your idea of what “Indian black tea” can be.
• Sikkim adds another regional identity, and it pairs well with the white/green tea discussions because it helps you keep tasting by origin.
• Kangra rounds things out and makes the whole session feel like a guided map of Indian tea geography.

You also hear the term terroir in the shop context: the growing conditions that shape the leaves. Even if you’re not a chemistry person (no shame), you can still learn a lot. By the end of a good tasting, you’re not only saying, This tastes good—you’re more likely to say, This tastes different in a predictable way.

That’s the real value here. Many tea tastings are just sampling. This one tries to train your senses so you can later choose teas you’ll actually enjoy.

White Tea, Green Tea, and the Other Styles: A Break From the Usual Cup

India gets attention for black tea, but this session is also designed to show you that the country’s tea world has more options. You’ll taste white teas and green teas alongside other types, and you’ll also see Ayurvedic herbal teas for wellness.

For you, that means the tasting isn’t only about picking your next caffeine hit. It’s also about expanding your mental shelf:

• If you usually drink black tea only, white and green can feel lighter and more delicate.
• If you expect green tea to be bitter, you may find there’s more range than you thought.
• If you’re curious about non-tea herbal options, the Ayurvedic teas give you a different direction than standard leaf-based brews.

One practical tip: pay attention to how teas make you feel in the body. Even without making health claims, you’ll notice how some teas feel calmer, lighter, or more “grounded.” That’s useful when you’re deciding what to buy for mornings versus evenings back home.

Masala Chai Blends With Saffron, Cardamom, Ginger: Spice Blending Lessons in a Cup

The store’s signature style isn’t just plain tea. You’ll also try masala chai blends, including seven blends described as using spices like saffron and cardamom, plus ginger and other spice notes from the Malabar Spice Coast.

This matters because chai can turn into a random sweetness trap if you don’t know what’s inside. Here, you get to taste the components as part of an actual blending approach. That helps you understand the difference between:

• a chai that’s mostly sweetness and milk-friendly,
• a chai that feels more aromatic and lightly spiced,
• a chai with a more complex finish because it mixes multiple spice notes.

If you’re buying souvenirs, this is also where chai can be a smart choice. It’s easy to brew at home, and you can build a chai routine without hunting for special tea leaves. Still, I’d treat it as experimentation: choose one or two blends to bring back, and consider adding at least one plain-region tea so your cupboard isn’t only spice.

Buying Tea Gifts in a Store With 100+ Options: How Not to Get Overwhelmed

One reason this place works for travelers is that you can browse like a normal shopper and also shop like someone who just learned something. The shop offers a large range of Indian teas and blends, including gift options with over 100 blends that include real spices, herbs, flowers, or pure tea.

But big selection can be a problem. Here’s how to avoid the classic tourist mistake: buying five things you can’t remember.

After tasting, you’ll probably have a few “winners.” Use that to guide your purchase:

• Buy one tea that tasted best to you plain (so you can compare later at home).
• Buy one chai blend that felt most balanced (aroma + spice + finish).
• If you liked the lighter styles, grab a small amount of white or green so you can build variety.

Also, the shop encourages you to ask sommeliers to brew any tea in the store on the house. That’s a strong tool. If you’re uncertain between two choices, ask for the one you’re most curious about. Then decide with a fresh cup in front of you, not guesswork.

Price, Group Size, and Timing: Getting Value From a $7 Tasting in Delhi

At $7 per person, this tasting is priced like a practical add-on. In other places, tea tastings can be much more expensive and still feel rushed. Here, the price makes it easier to justify sitting down for tea education, not just buying a single souvenir.

A few details shape the experience quality:

• The group size is capped at 20 travelers, which helps keep the staff’s attention on each cup.
• The session lasts about 1 hour, so it fits neatly between other plans.
• Booking tends to happen about 8 days in advance on average, so if you’re on a tight schedule, don’t wait until the last minute.

Timing-wise, the shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Since the tasting is about an hour, plan to arrive a bit early so you’re not rushing when you’re trying to smell and compare teas.

Also, it’s near public transportation, and the meeting point is clearly marked at Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery, Sancha Tea 15, Netaji Subhash Marg, opposite Golcha Cinema, diagonally, Daryaganj. That’s useful if you’re walking around Old Delhi and want a place that’s easy to plug into your route.

A Few Real Reasons This Session Feels Special

This experience has a few qualities that turn it from a simple stop into a memorable one for tea people:

• The focus stays on regional taste rather than marketing hype.
• The shop setting is built around browsing, so you can move from tasting to shopping naturally.
• The staff approach is welcoming, so you can ask questions and taste at your own pace.
• You get a mix of plain teas and spiced blends, which makes the comparisons more fun.

And the best part is the learning style. You’re not being lectured into liking tea. You’re tasting, comparing, and getting enough context to make your own choices.

Should You Book This Tea Tasting Session?

Yes—if you want a high-signal tea experience in Delhi that fits into a short window. Book it when:

• you’re a tea lover or you’re trying to become one,
• you want a practical way to learn how Indian tea regions differ,
• you plan to buy tea gifts and want help choosing without regret.

Skip it (or at least think twice) if you’re expecting a long, formal class or a huge scheduled dinner-style itinerary. This is a shop tasting, tight and focused. The value is in what you taste and what you learn fast, not in spending hours on one theme.

If you’re deciding at the last minute, I’d still book. For the price and the chance to compare multiple Indian regions in one sitting, it’s an easy win.

FAQ

How long does the tea tasting session last?

It runs for about 1 hour.

How much is the tea tasting?

The price is $7.00 per person.

Where does the tea tasting start?

It starts at Aap Ki Pasand Tea Gallery (Sancha Tea), 15 Netaji Subhash Marg, opposite Golcha Cinema, diagonally, Daryaganj, New Delhi, Delhi 110002.

What time is the shop open for this experience?

The listed hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

How many people are in the group?

The activity has a maximum of 20 travelers.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes, it includes a mobile ticket.

How far in advance is it commonly booked?

On average, it’s booked 8 days in advance.

Can I ask for specific teas to be brewed?

Yes. You can ask the sommeliers to brew you any tea in the store on the house.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.