ORGANIC DARJEELING
(Organic Estate Black Tea,2nd flush)
Country
of Origin: India
Region: Darjeeling
Shipping Port: Calcutta
Grade:
TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 6800
feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Ingredients: Luxury organic black tea
Organic Credentials: Certified Organic by QMI Organic Inc.
Information:
The Darjeeling area is India's champagne
district. It is located in northern India at the high altitiude edges of the Himalaya mountains. The main town is called
Darjeeling and from the town center on a clear day the peak of Mount Everest can be seen. The genus of the Darjeeling
tea bush is the Chinese Jat, which gives it the distinctive muscatel character. Because the tea is grown at such high
altitudes and in relatively cool weather the bushes do not grow quickly, and as such the production is limited. The best
time of the year for quality is during ‘second-flush' (end May - end June). During this time Darjeelings are
incomparable to any other tea in the world. The fragrance and taste is a complex bouquet that reaches right out of the
cup. Some would describe the taste as nutty; others find it reminds them of black currants, but most often it is described
as similar to the taste and fragrance of muscat grapes.
There are 3 main times of year
for producing good quality Darjeelings:
1st flush - springtime harvested teas from late
Feb. to mid April. The young leaves yield a light tea with generally intense muscatel with ‘point'. A gentle
afternoon tea.
2nd flush - Harvested in June, these teas are more fully developed. The liquor
is bright and the taste full and round excellent muscatel. A superb afternoon tea that is especially good with scones
and raspberry conserve.
Autumnal - Not always available depending upon the weather, they
are typified by a round taste and coppery liquor. Excellent as a breakfast tea with milk.
Hot
tea-brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1tsp of tea for
each cup into teapot. Add boiling water, cover and let steep 3 - 7 minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste. Acceptable
to consume 'straight up'.
Iced tea-brewing method: (1
quart/liter) Place 6 tsps of tea in a heat resistant pitcher. Add 1¼ cups freshly boiled water. Steep 5 min.
Quarter fill a serving pitcher with ice water. Add steeped tea and fill with ice water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. (Please
note: Top quality tea may cloud when iced (its OK) due to their naturally high flavonoid/polyphenol levels)
