Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Udyan Tea
Tea Description:
Goomtee is a very well known Darjeeling heritage garden planted with pure china bushes almost a century ago. This tea is for the strong hearted autumn flush lovers as it has a strong body with a very slight tinge of muscatel (grape flavour usually associated with second flush Darjeelings). It is a well balanced cup that leaves a stong after taste as well. With repeated steepings, the liquor becomes sweeter and midler. Perfect tea for long winding day with a good book in hand to read.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A lovely second flush Darjeeling tea, this Goomtee Autumnal Black Tea from Udyan Tea! It’s a stronger tea than what you might expect from a Darjeeling tea. This is not as crisp and light as a typical Darjeeling, but it’s not as heavy as other black teas. This still has a very recognizable Darjeeling character to it. When I sip this, my palate still identifies it as a Darjeeling.
And the question I usually have for a Darjeeling (especially a second flush) is: am I tasting muscatel? And the answer here is YES! The muscatel here isn’t as strong as one of those lighter, crisper second flush Darjeeling teas but there is still that lovely, muscat grape taste that I absolutely covet when it comes to Darjeeling.
The sip starts out brisk with woodsy notes. Almost immediately after my palate notices those woodsy tones, I start to pick up on a sweetness that reminds me of the sweetness I’d experience from golden raisins. By mid-sip, that raisin-y note transcends into something more like a muscat grape taste. The finish is dry and slightly astringent, but not overly so.
When it comes to Darjeeling teas, the autumnal harvest is usually my favorite, so I’m really glad that I got to experience this Autumnal Black from the Goomtee estate. It’s really delightful to sip.
Rohini Emerald Green Tea from Udyan Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Udyan Tea
Tea Description:
Rohini has been planted with special green tea clones which have very less *tannin content in them. The teas made from these bushes taste smooth and sweet, with pronounced vegetable flavour. They aren’t bitter unlike their counterparts from the district. Rohini Emerald Green Tea is made from single leaf and a bud.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Rohini Emerald Green Tea from Udyan Tea tastes a little different. When I took my first few sips of the tea, I thought maybe I didn’t steep it long enough or maybe the water wasn’t hot enough, but then I took a moment to read the above description. This tea is grown from clone plants that have less tannin content.
Still a green tea, of course, and still a really lovely tasting tea!
It’s really smooth and pleasantly sweet. The flavor is more delicate than the average green tea and since the tannin content is lower, you can go ahead and steep it a little longer to enhance the flavor if you’d like to. I went ahead and steeped the tea for 2 1/2 minutes in 180°F water and I’m quite satisfied with the result. It’s still delicate, but not quite as delicate as my first cup of this tea, which I steeped at 1 1/2 minutes which is my usual go-to for a pure green. The extra minute intensified the flavor a little, but the tea is still not bitter or astringent.
There is a pleasant vegetative taste to this that reminds me a bit of corn with just a hint of a grassy note. There is a very light creamy/buttery taste to it and a soft, silky texture. It’s quite refreshing to drink, even as a hot beverage. I found that I preferred this one hot, because as the tea cooled some of the flavor softened and because this tea is on the delicate side anyway, you’re going to get the most flavor out of it if you drink it hot.
This is one I’d recommend checking out. And while you’re perusing the Udyan Tea website, keep in mind that the default setting for the pricing is in Indian Rupees. You can adjust the currency setting at the top of the screen in the center.
Sri Lankan Pumpkin Chai from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
So I’m really enjoying this Pettaiagala Extra Long Leaf OP we got in from Sri Lanka, and I know the pumpkin chai blends go over better in the fall, but I couldn’t help thinking that this would make an awesome pumpkin chai. So we blended it with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, black peppercorns and organic pumpkin and other flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about 52Teas’ subscriptions here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first saw the announcement for this Sri Lankan Pumpkin Chai from 52Teas I double checked my calendar. Yep, it’s March. (Well, it was at the time of this tea’s announcement!) Pumpkin Chai isn’t exactly a tea that you expect to find in March. In September, sure. Maybe even as early as August. OK. From August through January, but when February arrives, we’ve pretty much had it up to here with pumpkin. By that point, we’ve had pumpkin pies, pancakes, cookies, soup, cupcakes and tea. By February, it’s time to break out the Valentines and extinguish the jack-o-lantern.
So I entered into this tea experience with a certain amount of “meh.”
But I’m really enjoying this chai. It’s heavy on the nutmeg and I’m liking that. (Nutmeg is one of my favorite spices.) Usually when nutmeg is promised as one of the ingredients in a chai, I taste hints of the nutmeg but this is a well pronounced flavor.
I’m also getting a strong dose of cinnamon. The cardamom is a background note. The ginger and pepper hit the palate at about mid-sip. They aren’t overly aggressive, but they do offer a pleasant spicy zing to the cup. I find myself missing clove here – I think a little clove might help round out the flavors just a little bit better.
Last year (at a more appropriate pumpkin time – September 22) 52Teas offered a Pumpkin Chai that I reviewed in October and I seem to recall that having a nicely defined pumpkin-y flavor to it, but I’m not tasting as much pumpkin with this blend as with the previous chai. The pumpkin does emerge somewhat as the tea cools a little.
But the lack of clove and pumpkin-y flavor might hide the nutmeg and really, for me, this chai is about the NUTMEG! I could smell it when I opened the pouch. Before I smelled the cinnamon or ginger or cardamom or pepper, I smelled nutmeg. And as I hinted at before, this made me a very happy sipper, indeed.
And because this is the one of the best celebrations of nutmeg in a tea that I’ve had in quite some time, I will let the fact that it’s mid-April and I’m sipping on a pumpkin chai slide. Just this once.
Mankota Exotic Assam Second Flush Black Tea from Golden Tips
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Golden Tips
Tea Description:
Mankota produces some excellent second flush black teas every year. This tea in particular boasts of all characters of a premium Assam tea. The tea is robust, bold and extremely malty. The full-body of the tea finishes on a slightly sweet note which makes it an absolute prized possession. Sprinkled with golden tips all over, the dark red liquor shimmers in the cup.A fantastic breakfast tea and a must-try if you love Assam tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
After taking my first few sips of this Mankota Exotic Assam Second Flush Black Tea from Golden Tips, I found myself in complete agreement with the last sentence of the above description. This is definitely a fantastic ‘breakfast tea’ – it tastes great straight up, but it would take the additions of milk and honey very well too. And I would put this on the ‘must try’ list of anyone who enjoys a good Assam.
I brewed this tea in my Kati tumbler, adding 1 bamboo scoop of tea to the basket and pouring 12 ounces of nearly boiling water (205°F) and steeped the tea for 2 1/2 minutes. The reason I lowered the temperature slightly is because Assam teas tend to be somewhat temperamental and can become bitter. A little lower temperature and a little less time in the steep can do much to help avoid a bitter cup! It’s a little extra effort that’s well worth the investment because the payoff is a wonderful, malty cup of Assam!
This tea is indeed delightful! It’s rich, malty and has a satisfying, thick texture. It has notes of freshly baked bread, evoking thoughts of a warm loaf of French bread with a crisp, chewy crust. The caramelized sweetness of the crust of that loaf of bread comes through in the undertones of this tea.
Fruit notes! I didn’t pick up on them right away but by mid-cup, I started noticing notes of raisin and wine-like grape. Sweet. Notes of plum and even a hint of citrus in there too. I’m not sure how I missed these flavors at the start because they’re so abundant now, I can only think that I was so enchanted by the warm, freshly baked bread notes that my palate was ignoring all else! But now, I am enjoying the way the sweet, malty notes marry with the fruit tones. Quite lovely, indeed.
It’s an invigorating tea – it’s got gusto! It’s a bold cup of tea, but it’s not an overly aggressive cup. It isn’t bitter and it doesn’t have a lot of astringency to it either. It’s actually quite smooth. There is some astringency toward the finish, a slightly tangy effect. The aftertaste is sweet.
A truly rewarding tea. I highly recommend this those who love a good Assam!
Organic Jungpana Premium Autumn Flush Darjeeling Black Tea from Golden Tips
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Golden Tips
Tea Description:
A first-rate Autumnal from the paradisiacal tea plantations of Jungpana. Amber liquoring with a riveting aroma, this is sure to become your favorite morning cuppa. Fittingly robust and bodied, the tea brings in whiffs & undertones of muscatel complimented by distinctive maltiness unique to Darjeeling black teas through the pre-winter harvests. Taste buds capitulate to the bold slightly-earthy character of the tea as it flushes your mouth with its dominant character. A slight palatableness engulfs as you roll the liquor. Floral and dark chocolaty notes are sustained during the entire experience. An excellent tea and among our best-sellers every season.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried quite a few Darjeeling teas from Golden Tips so far and I’ve been impressed with what I’ve tried. This Organic Jungpana Premium Autumn Flush follows in fashion. This is a wonderful Darjeeling!
I brewed this tea in my Breville tea maker, adding 2 bamboo scoops of tea to the basket and pouring 500ml of water to the pitcher. Then I set the temperature for 195°F and the timer for 2 1/2 minutes. It’s been my experience that Darjeeling teas do better with a slightly lower temperature.
And the result is a cupful of deliciousness! This is a delightfully complex Darjeeling. It’s crisp. The body of this tea falls somewhere between light and medium. There is some astringency to this, but not a lot. Just a slightly dry sensation toward the tail. No bitterness – just wonderful flavor that keeps me sipping.
The sip starts out with a sweet note that’s slightly grape-y. This tea has a distinct wine-like flavor (muscatel!) and there are some notes of flower. By mid-sip, the grape notes become more defined. I taste subtle woodsy tones and hints of earth. As the sip goes into the finish, there is a slightly dry, sweet note. The aftertaste is sweet with just a hint of tartness that reminds me of currant.
A fantastic Darjeeling. This is the kind of tea that I’d recommend to any tea drinker, especially to those who are new to Darjeeling. This tea would be a great way to start one’s journey into the wonderful world of Darjeeling tea!