I steeped this tea for about 3 min at 212 with almost 2tsp and 1 cup water. I couldn’t find the product on the company’s website, so I just guesstimated the steeping specs. Which is always fun. I prefer to use the recommended specs if possible, in order to give the tea a chance to put its best foot forward (as it were), but I’m also fine with just doing whatever seems to work if there aren’t any recommendations.
The water started turning amber pretty quickly after I put the leaves in to steep. I used a generous amount of leaf due to not knowing the specs; probably a heaping teaspoon would have been sufficient, but of course that’s all up to personal preference. The leaves seemed to be chopped pretty small, but they’re not crushed into dust or anything. The fragrance was a bit malty and flowery while steeping, but also a bit astringent.
After steeping, the tea was a warm golden-brown color, transparent enough to see a stray leaf at the bottom of the cup. It smelled very inviting. Once I tasted it, though, I decided I’d steeped it a bit strong. The astringency was prominent, although fortunately the tea wasn’t bitter at all (despite using boiling water). The flavor wasn’t as malty as I expected, but there were still floral notes especially at the end of the sip. It’s a solid black tea, especially astringent but also somewhat sweet.
With sugar, the astringency is wonderfully mellowed and the floral notes emerge a bit more–I’d definitely recommend this. With milk added, I love it even more. (But what did you expect? I always do.) I’d consider this a great breakfast tea, and steeping it strongly is a good plan if you’re going to add sugar and milk, otherwise I’d recommend steeping it not quite so long (maybe 2 minutes?).
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Darjeeling
Where to Buy: Lochan Tea Limited
Description
This tea is no longer on the website but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Yatra Tea Company. . . .
Being one that normally grabs for flavored teas, I sometimes forget about the amazing flavors straight teas can yield. Thankfully, Glenburn Estate from Yatra Tea Company reminded me of this fact.
Glenburn Estate (Darjeeling_ is one of the smoothest straight green teas I’ve ever had. Full of gorgeous vibes, this tea is one that I highly recommend.
Brewed up to the parameters recommended on the package, this tea yields one of the most alluring flavors I’ve experienced. The first infusion was full of sweet citrus silky smooth tones with a subtle vegetal hint with a buttery sense and feel through each sip.
This tea literally sings and I mean SINGS to your soul and gives you that-You must relax NOW feel. I literally told my husband, this tea is sexy. Not a term I use a whole lot for tea. He took a sip and completely agreed with me. With how rich these buttery notes are, how could he not agree with me.
I spent the evening with this tea and was insanely satisfied with cup after cup, tea pot after tea pot. For the price and what you receive, this tea is luxury on a budget. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I was actually surprised with how reasonably priced this tea was for the amazing flavors this green tea yielded.
This morning this tea was already calling me. Brew me up and start your day off right.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description
High in the Himalayas, overlooking the intimidating Kanchenjunga mountain range, lie the rolling tea fields of the heavenly Glenburn Estate. Founded in 1859 by a Scottish tea company, Glenburn is one of the oldest Darjeeling estates and many of the laborious routines appear to be unchanged till date on this 750 hectare estate.
In addition to traditional Darjeeling black teas, Glenburn produces a superior green tea at specific times of the year. Yatra Tea Company proudly presents an April 2017 offering harvested exclusively for us.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Himalayan Dew Delight SFTGFOP1 from Terroir Tea Merchant
How wonderful is the title “Himalayan Dew Delight”?
Pretty great, but the flavor is even better.
Usually black teas taste heavy, a sturdy base that tastes malty, chocalate-y, rich, or some combination thereof. If you want a lighter touch, you have to look elsewhere.
Not today! This was called “dew delight” to clue you in! It’s springy and warm. It tastes like flowers and pollen and ragweed. Sparrows swooping through clean pale yellow air.
Just a general spring outdoor vibe.
Minus all the runny noses. Oh man. Our family has been struck by seasonal allergies like a nuke. Our sinuses are trashed. Eyes weep. Coughs and snorts interrupt our sleep.
We have traveled from prescription to prescription like wanderers through a war-torn apocalypse movie. We have found acceptable solutions, but no guaranteed safe haven.
Drinking this tea might be the closest we get to spring this year — but it’s delicious!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Terroir Tea Merchant
Description
A colourful black tea with silver-tipped leaves and a smooth, medium strength reminiscent of a Darjeeling.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Darjeeling Red Thunder Black – Gopaldhara Estate from Conundrum Tea. . . .
Darjeeling Red Thunder Black – Gopaldhara Estate from Conundrum Tea is the first tea I have tried from this company! And I sure hope it isn’t my last! Darjeeling Red Thunder Black – Gopaldhara Estate no longer appears on the company website or shop but it certainly was a GOODY!
It was an autumn flush, black tea, from Darjeeling, India. It’s been said that Autumns in Darjeeling tend to be cold and the temperatures can reach freezing levels. This causes the leaves to wither and ferment before they are even picked. Having the tea leaves processed by nature produces some very interesting tastes…according to our friends at Steepster’s Product Description…which usually comes straight from the horses mouth.
Darjeeling Red Thunder Black – Gopaldhara Estate from Conundrum Tea is bold with sweet, fruity, floral notes. The first steep was quite intense but it smooths out with the follow-up infusions. The brewed tea has a gold color and a wet-woodsy smell to it.
You know how I adore learning about all of the various tea estates and this one was no exception. The Gopaldhara Tea Estate has been owned by the Saria family since the 1950’s. Their land ranges in elevation from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet. This gives them one of the highest elevation tea farms in Darjeeling and they are very proud of this fact. They are constantly developing their teas to come up with unique and different tastes which makes their teas stand out from the rest of the Darjeeling teas. After sipping on Darjeeling Red Thunder Black – Gopaldhara Estate from Conundrum Tea I’m certain they accomplished that with this tea. It’s completely tasty and satisfying with no additional flavorings…just straight up black tea, here, folks! And it’s a darling of a Darjeeling!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Conundrum Tea
Description
Click below to see what teas are available.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Uper Fagu Darjeeling Oolong from The Tea Shelf
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!
