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Cameron B. drank Darjeeling Premium First Flush Black Tea by Vahdam Teas

4160 tasting notes

Vahdam Advent Calendar – Day 13

Yay, a straight tea! I don’t have a lot of experience with Darjeeling teas, so this’ll be an interesting one. I steeped it at a much lower temperature than I normally would for a black tea. I don’t know if that’s necessary or not, but for a first flush I figured I would err on the cautious side.

It has a light amber color. The flavor reminds me of somewhere between black, green, and white teas. It has a lovely soft bready flavor with chewy oats and grains, and a touch of hay. There’s also a creamy nuttiness that reminds me of cashews. Some vegetal notes appear near the end of the sip, and there’s a crisp, somewhat grassy finish. Perhaps a soft musky floral note as well? And the pleasant lingering taste of autumn leaves…

There’s definitely a lot going on, but it’s still very smooth and easy to drink. I get a tiny hint of menthol and spice at the end of the sip, but I’m wondering if that’s more of a scent/flavor contamination issue from all of the neighboring masala chai and turmeric blends.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIwKiV8gKVk/

(today’s advent teas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIvvvDxAx9V/)

Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Bread, Creamy, Grain, Grass, Hay, Nuts, Oats, Smooth, Vegetal

Preparation

185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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1 comments

Courtney
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This one sounds really tasty!

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Courtney
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This one sounds really tasty!

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- November sipdowns: 9
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 152

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing