This Nilgiri is reminiscent of a Darjeeling. Though the leaves really do not have a resemblance, the wet leaf smell has the mineral and earthy components.
It is somewhat mineral in taste as well but namely earthy with mixes of wood and earth. That sounds confusing but if you look at a tea flavor wheel it will make more sense.
If tasted while steeping between minutes 1-2 you may detect some hints of honey which I also find follows in the after taste but the honey disappears when steeped past 3 minutes.
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Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
SAKHIRA ESTATE, NEPAL, FIRST FLUSH 2017/Yatra Tea Company. . . .
With a singular focus on harvesting only the highest quality black Orthodox teas, the produce of Sakhira is poised to give the vaunted Darjeeling teas a run for their money…this is according to Yatra Tea Company’s website and I have to say that it was quite reminiscent of some Darjeelings I have sipped on in the past.
This Sakhira Estate, Nepal, First Flush from Yatra Tea Company was harvested in April of 2017. It is a black tea from the Nepal region and is of the Tippy grade or SFTGFOP1. It’s golden-yellow liquor, fragrant aroma that is highlighted with pronounced floral notes, offers an incredibly smooth taste that I found myself craving long after the cup.
I adored this tea. But I also enjoyed learning more about where the tea leaves came from which was an area approximately 12 miles from the Ilam bazaar lies the Sakhira Garden which is named for its location (Sakhejung Hill Range). This estate is relatively young (founded in 2000 by the collective efforts of a group of small farmers). The production facilities reside at 4,000 feet while the plantations that provide tea to the factory are perched at an altitude of 6,000 feet.
I can just imagine looking out into these gardens while sipping on a delightful cup of this tea from Yatra Tea Co. Lovely!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description
This tea doesn’t appear to be available currently but click below for teas that are!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Glendale Estate, Nilgiri, First Flush 2017 from Yatra Tea Company. . . . . .
If this tea were a man, it’d be at the bar picking up ladies left and right — because it is smoooooooooooooooooooooth. It has a dark, slightly spicy, very earthy flavor that melts on the tongue.
This is a great example of a classic Indian black tea. If someone were like, “hook a sister up with a Darjeeling*,” I’d toss this into their lap. “Give this a whirl. See how India treats you,” I’d reply.
* (No one says things to me like this. I would be SO RECEPTIVE to someone making a nice, specific tea request. Usually I get someone waffling around, asking if, um, I have any tea, that’s like, uh, black? Can they have a cup of, uh, black? I have about 50 types of black tea. I need more specificity.)
Do you know the history of tea in India? LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.
Once upon a time, the British realized they liked tea. But they didn’t want to pay Asia for tea. So they took over India and made the locals grow it for them instead. And they still grow tea in India today.
Interestingly, Indian black tea tends to be lighter, and slightly spicier, than its Asian counterpart. It’s like the spices from Indian cooking somehow correlate with the soil. That’s not science, I know, but it sort of FEELS like it, which is almost the same thing.
Next time you’re a little lonely, let a nice Darjeeling slide into your cup. You might just find love!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description
Residing at an elevation of between 4,000 and 6,000 ft., Glendale was established in 1835. Located in close proximity to the scenic city of Conoor in South India, Glendale is among the most recognized Nilgiri tea plantations and follows all global production standards.
Glendale, the anglicized version of “Gleann Dail” (Gaelic), roughly translates to a fertile valley and comprises of 3 gardens which combined make up 525 hectares of planted area. Typical mountainous conditions allow for the production of distinctive “high grown” teas. The estate has a flourishing ecosystem, and while technology is pervasive, it exists without disrupting the essential characteristics that makes Glendale teas so sought after.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
CRAIGMORE ESTATE, NILGIRI/ Yatra Tea
First off I do not know what flush this was picked or what year.
But if I were to guess it would most likely be either 2016 first or second flush or it could be that this is indeed the 2017 flush.
I don’t drink straight up black teas like this often. Mainly because most people who drink them add milk and or sugar and I do not tend to do that. Except this time.
After tasting it every minute while steeping. I decided 4 minutes was prime. It screams put milk in me. It has a bit of a bitterness to it along with the earthy forest flavors that make it seem prime for a spot of milk.
And so…. I added some after my initial plain cup. Of course because I’ve only added milk a handful of times… I messed up.
Too much almond milk. Now it’s more like a latte. After steeping the leaves directly in the almond milk for a bit longer it now seems better.
Quite tasty actual. It helps bring out some of the nutty and wet earth notes and mellows out the bitterness.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description:
Crepy leaves that yield a medium-dark liquor, with a slightly woody, malty aroma, and a medium body with mildly brisk character.
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Thoughts on Himalayan Bliss Estate, Nepal, First Flush 2017 / Yatra Tea
Not to be confused with a Darjeeling.
Many of the same attributes found in a Darjeeling can also be found in this tea. (Starting to feel like Darjeeling should be a tea type like black, green, etc). Fresh in both smell and taste.
This interesting clonal tea is apparently surrounded by other Darjeeling estates and while this doesn’t automatically make it better for processing it as a Darjeeling it does help in developing the flavors.
Just like the mountainous regions of Taiwan make amazing oolongs.
Anyway, this tea is very refreshing. As it’s cooled I find myself enjoying it more. It doesn’t have quite a muscatel flavor like many Darjeelings do but it has that fresh aftertaste.
This tea is honestly hard to describe because it really doesn’t have any descriptors on the flavor wheel. Try it yourself, you’ll see what I mean.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description:
2.5 gms (approx. 1 tsp) per 6 oz of filtered water, steep for 3-4 mins at 203 F/95 C.
Vary leaf quantity, brewing time, and temperature per individual preferences.
Champagne gold color, with a sweet, fragrant aroma, and clean, refreshing taste.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!