Hello Tea Friends.
Darjeeling, one of the most famous tea growing regions in the world. Did you know tea produced in Darjeeling accounts for 7% of India’s total tea export? I love to read and learn about tea, there are some great facts on Wikipedia.
The Tea Shelf specialise in Indian teas from source and offer worldwide shipping. A new company to me but they offer worldwide shipping and have a wonderful selection on their site.
The tea I will be reviewing is Uper Fagu Darjeeling Oolong. Upper Fagu is a tea garden in Gorubathan, Darjeeling. This particular sample was picked in 2015 and is second flush with a silver tip grade. I did my best to try and break it down and explain where this tea comes from and what it is. The packet contains a lot of this information which is always useful to buyers.
Opening the packet and scooping some leaves into my hands I see long, thin leaves with a natural curl in a mixture of earthy green and brown colours with plenty of silver tips. The tips also have downy hairs. They bare a dry and floral scent with a touch of fruit.
Steeping Parameters: 1 teaspoon of leaf, 95C water. 3 minute steep.
Once steeped the tea soup is golden and light in colour with a sweet floral and fruit scent, very similar to it’s raw form.
The first few sips reveal a clean, peony base with a nutty, dry aftertaste. Further sips reveal a crisp citrus with honeyed tones. It becomes thicker in strength as it cools slightly.
Overall it’s delicate but very refined. A very nice example of a Darjeeling Oolong. Very nice tea and a company I will certainly be looking at in the future if this is the calibre of what they have to offer.
Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Tea Shelf
Description: One of the finest oolongs of Darjeeling, the aroma of dark chocolate envelopes your senses, reminiscent of a cold wintry day! The leaves are springy with a moss like mosaic of silver and copper. The infusion shows another surprise with individual leaves clearly visible with bright colours of copper and mauve. The chocolate experience continues but now coupled with citrus and fruity notes. The steeped leaves give way to a gorgeous sunset yellow cup, which is very brisk on the palate with notes of jasmine and citrus, which linger on.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Darjeeling The Second Flush from Lupicia. . . . .
Darjeeling – The Second Flush certainly grabbed my attention as I was trying to decide which black tea to start my day off with recently. It was then I noticed Darjeeling The Second Flush was one of the Lupicia teas I still had yet to try!
When it comes to a Darjeeling – what can you really say that hasn’t already been said? Many of us know that Darjeeling is considered to be or often called the Champagne of Teas. This specific Darjeeling was Lupicia special blend using summer-plucked Darjeeling. It was fresh and fruity and crisp. Just what I was looking for in a Darjeeling and in a morning tea not too long ago!
Another thing that is notable here with this tea is that it is ONLY available in Lupicia’s online store and Hawaii store.
So if you’re a Darjeeling fan you are going to want to look into this tasty tea! It’s Lupicia’s Darjeeling The Second Flush. Is it calling YOU like it was calling ME? It just might be!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
A special blend only using summer-plucked Darjeeling, often called “the Champagne of teas.” Fruity and fresh, yet the mouthfeel is crisp and concentrated.
