Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
GIDDAPAHAR MUSCATEL, manufactured by Giddapahar Tea Estate which produces some of the world famous Darjeeling Teas. The garden is famous due to its distinctive 2nd Flush. The larger part of the garden is planted with CHINA BUSHES which are ideal for the 2ND FLUSH MUSCATEL.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having just gotten over a bad cold, I was worried that perhaps I would not miss the wonderful subtle flavors of this Darjeeling. I feared that perhaps my taste buds were still impaired and that I’d not be able to detect the lovely muscatel that is promised in the name of this tea.
Fortunately, my taste buds seem up to par now, because I can taste the amazing muscatel notes here. Sweet and fruity, with a slight fermented fruit note going on … like fermented grapes. That is to say, there is a wine-like character to this cup that is quite delightful!
In the background, I can taste notes of earth and wood … deep and oak-y. These flavors come in toward mid-sip and are especially noticeable in the aftertaste, and they offer a very intriguing contrast to the sweetness that is introduced to the palate at the start.
Shortly after the fruity sweetness, I notice a sweet, exotic floral tone followed by a clean, almost bubbly kind of sensation over the palate. It’s almost effervescent. I want to describe it as a sparkling mineral water kind of taste that together with the astringency of this tea, creates an almost champagne-like experience. I don’t know if this is why some refer to Darjeeling as the “champagne of teas,” but, it would certainly give me cause to refer to it as such. It’s quite remarkable, and really very enjoyable.
Overall, the flavor is very light and crisp. I find this lightness to be very invigorating. Something that can put a skip in one’s step. Vibrant, complex and bright. A lovely experience!
Margarets Hope Bi-Mudan (2nd Flush) from Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
MARGARETS HOPE BI – MUDAN has been made from PURE AV2 clonal plants at an elevation of 6000 ft. A specialised team of tea pluckers pluck the finest 2 leaf and a bud under the full moon beam which enhances the flavour of th tea. This tea is very high in antioxidants due to the process by which it is manufactured. A must try for the tea lovers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried maybe a handful (at most!) of white teas that were produced in Darjeeling, and I must say that the more I try, the more I like this rather rare tea! It has some qualities of a black Darjeeling with the lightness of a white tea … but then again, as a white tea, it has more flavor than a typical Chinese white tea. It’s quite an enigmatic tea, and I’m loving every sip of it!
And just because this IS a white tea, don’t think for a second that it is going to be “too delicate.” It is delicate, yes, when compared to a black or even a green Darjeeling. However, it is not delicate if it were compared to, say, a Silver Needle white. In comparison, this one has so much more flavor! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking a Silver Needle, I love them! But, I am also loving the delicious differences I’m noticing from this Bi-Mudan from Darjeeling Tea Lovers.
I taste much of the fruit notes that one might expect from a Darjeeling, I even taste hints of a grape-y muscatel! This muscat grape note is accompanied by a deliciously crisp apple-y taste that is a little bit sweet and a little bit sour. As I reach the end of the sip, I notice a slight mint-like note that is crisp and clean, and this note seems to meld with the astringency in such a way that is quite unique, leaving the palate feel clean and taste sweet. My mouth actually waters shortly after the sip ends, and I’m not sure if this has anything to do with the effects of the tea or just the fact that my taste buds are loving what they’re tasting so much that they want more!
It has a crisper taste than most black Darjeeling teas that I’ve tried, and usually these are sparkling and crisp! This is even more so! It has a very uplifting quality – not quite as calm or soothing as a white tea, instead, I’d say this has some energizing properties to it.
A fantastic Darjeeling white – and it’s FABULOUS iced!