Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tea Merchant
Tea Description:
Our select high grown tea is hand picked, artisan processed, and brews a brisk, bright cup much lighter than other black teas. It is grown in high altitude steep slopes of up to 4000 ft. This tea is from the Makaibari estate in the Darjeeling hills at one of the last family-owned tea estates in Darjeeling, India. It is home to the finest high grown Darjeeling teas and the leader of biodynamic and organic permaculture.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea company recently introduced itself to the Steepster Community, and offered some of us samples! I’m not one to turn down a tea sample, so I spoke up, and not long after did a box arrive with four delightful samples inside, including this Biodynamic Darjeeling. I mention all of this only because I wanted to take a moment to tell you about the packaging! The four samples were packaged in sturdy, resealable pouches that were then wrapped in tissue paper and then sealed with a wax seal. I love little touches like this. It may seem like one of those unnecessary, frivolous touches, but I happen to like it when a company takes the time to make the package special – it’s like getting a gift from a friend.
And what a gift! This Biodynamic Darjeeling is really quite wonderful.
The aroma of the dry leaf is light and fruity, and the brewed tea maintains much of that fruity quality. The fruit notes are evident in the taste as well. Muscatel! A sweet, wine-y grape flavor, as well as a hint of apple in the background. I notice that the fruit notes seem to intensify as the tea cools, but don’t let it cool too much! Sure, this would make a fine iced tea, but, to really discover all the nuances this tea has to offer, I recommend drinking it hot.
It has a deep, woodsy tone to it, but it still maintains that light, crisp taste that seems to be an inherent quality of a Darjeeling. Sweet with hints of earthy spice – this is neither too earthy, nor too spicy, nor too sweet. It has such a pleasant fullness to it, while keeping it’s beautifully light character.
This is very enjoyable – this is the kind of tea that you’ll want to have on hand for those afternoons when you just want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea … and it would also be an excellent tea to serve to the guests. (But be warned, if you serve this one to guests, they’re likely to be guests again!)
