Using cutting edge algorithm technology to predict demand-based consumption habits, internal rankings and pricing, the Teabox model aims to link tea drinkers more directly with growers – by providing more accurate information on tea altitudes, time of picking and crop yields via a sophisticated online portal. The tea-drinking experiences are also explored in blog posts and the information is offered in multiple languages including German and Russian. During the tea tastings a method of codified information is explained to me. One tea is marked with the letters FFMHMW – an acronym for First Flush Margaret's Hope Moonlight White. The tea is from the first annual crop, grown in Margaret's Hope Estate, and picked under a full moon. Teabox chief executive Kaushal Dugar, whose family has been involved in the tea industry for four decades, says creating Teabox was a labour of love. Prior to Teabox, Dugar worked for KPMG in Singapore as a data analyst - he has now returned to India to marry his knowledge of cutting-edge marketingwith the ancient family tradition of tea-growing. “I'd always been a great believer in the idea that the internet can be a great leveller in this age of global commerce, and I saw that the tea industry in India - steeped in age-old traditions and practices - was ripe for disruption,” he says. Dugar claims consumers have been short-changed by the old tea-exporting system that consists of multiple stakeholders such as auction houses, wholesalers, distributors and importers. The Teabox distribution system means the time between the tea being picked to its arrival in customers' hands can be reduced to a matter of weeks. “Technology hasn't traditionally been applied to solve any of the problems of the tea industry, and with us being the first movers in this industry, we're bringing a new perspective to the traditional problems,” he says. “We source the teas directly from the growers and ship them to customers the world over by ourselves within a week's time. This enhances the product quality by a huge extent.” Teabox has also found a receptive audience online in Australia. Jim Harmon from Ferntree Gully says he had struggled to find first-flush Darjeeling tea for sale in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. “Living out here it’s difficult to get decent Darjeeling tea. Despite reservations about ordering online, I have found their stuff to be extremely reputable and good quality.” Later in the day in India we visit Goomtee Estate, a beautiful tea plantation about 1500 metres high in the Himalayas, where Teabox chief taster Rajiv Gupta explains how Teabox varieties are selected. “I’ve been in the industry for 17 years managing other estates. Now I can share that knowledge with local growers to ensure they get premium prices for their teas – and that the teas get to our consumers worldwide as quickly and efficiently as possible.” Gupta estimates the turnaround time from the tea being picked to being shipped can be reduced down to a matter of days. As soon as the tea is procured from the plantation it is sent to the production centre where it is checked for quality, vacuum-sealed and dispatched globally. Krishan Katyal says he welcomes the arrival of online start-ups like Teabox, but points out some limitations of the online model. “It may be true that they can get the tea back to people in a shorter time – but the real question is what tea are you receiving. You can get it in six weeks or six months – but it could be that it is actually at its best after six months. An online purchase doesn’t necessarily make it better – it just means you're getting it faster.” Despite still being a tiny player in a massive global market, Teabox is undoubtedly breaking down walls between growers and tea connoisseurs around the globe. For Melburnians looking to step beyond the simple teabag, the brave new world of high quality tea just got smaller. .