Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Rare Tea Republic
Tea Description:
Made entirely of Phoobsering Estate’s famous cultivar, P312, this flavorful selection is the perfect expression of spring in Darjeeling. A sweet briskness lingers on the palate with notes of Lily of the Valley and sweet lemon. There is a planty quality to the finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I mentioned in my tasting note for this tea on Steepster, if this Darjeeling is any indication of what we might expect from the 2012 harvest, we’re in for a wonderful year of tea!
This is really quite marvelous. The aroma is lovely, with notes of flower. I don’t think I’ve ever really experienced a tea that had such a distinct Lily of the Valley note to it before. I mean, I’ve experienced teas with orchid notes or honeysuckle, and other flowers, but this is the first time where I really recognized Lily of the Valley. Wow!
This is really quite smooth, smoother than I’d normally expect from a Darjeeling. The delivery is smooth from start to finish, with only a slight astringency toward the tail, as if to remind you that this is a Darjeeling.
And as I mentioned with my review of the Wah First Flush from Rare Tea Republic, this tea looks like it could be a green tea when I first opened the package. And the color of the brewed liquid is much lighter than a typical black tea. But, one taste tells me that this is definitely a black Darjeeling.
It has those crisp, light notes and fruity tones that Darjeeling is known for, with a hint of muscatel that presents itself toward the finish. Quite lovely. But even more than the muscatel is the delectable lemony note of this tea. It tastes as if I’d squeezed a thin slice of fresh lemon in the cup. It really brightens the flavor and perks up the flavor in a very nice way.
Truly a memorable Darjeeling, this Phoobsering First Flush from Rare Tea Republic. I find that I can always count on Rare Tea Republic to deliver top-notch tea. This is the kind of company that will impress even the most discerning of tea connoisseurs … I highly recommend them, and this tea!
I’ve not heard of this Darjeeling estate – and sometimes I foolishly think I know them all. Cultivar 312 is therefore also a mystery to me. Are they the only ones growing this cultivar?
Anyway, sounds delicious, especially now with the heat, a Darjeeling that tastes of freshly squeezed lemon sounds pretty tempting! Probably good iced too.
What are the best green teas and other unique kinds?
There are a lot of really excellent green teas out there. It is difficult to say which are “best” because it really depends upon the drinker and what they prefer. Some green teas are grassier than others, some have a creamy, buttery consistency to them, some are very invigorating while others are very light and soothing. It’s all a matter of what you might be looking for. Some of the most unique green teas are the ones that are coming out of Africa. They’re really quite amazing.