This is the 2019 harvest, and it’s very, very good—so good that it’ll probably be gone by the end of the month if I don’t hoard it. I steeped 2.5 teaspoons of leaf in a 355 ml mug at 203F for 5 minutes, plus another long infusion because I didn’t want this session to end. I usually steep Darjeelings for 3.5, 5, and 10 minutes, but wanted to see if a longer first steep would bring out more flavour for the review.
The dry leaf aroma is of muscatel, honey, and orange blossoms. After steeping, the muscatel wafts gloriously out of my cup. Steeping for 5 minutes was a fantastic idea, except not really, because now I’ll want to drink all my Darjeelings this way. The tea has notes of muscatel, honey, autumn leaf pile, orange blossom, roses, tannins, tree sap, earth, and a bit of chocolate. There’s a whisper of astringency that doesn’t occur if the tea is brewed less heavily. The second steep is a little more astringent, but still has nice honey, muscatel, and sappy notes.
Whether it’s steeped strong or comparatively weak, this is a great second flush Darjeeling with lots of nuanced flavours. It has exactly the soft, muscatel, floral profile I like in this tea type and I regret not buying more.
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Chocolate, Earth, Floral, Honey, Muscatel, Orange Blossom, Rose, Sap, Tannin
Preparation
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I picked up a bag of this in my latest order but haven’t dipped into it yet. Will have to give your parameters a try!
Thanks! Steeping a bit less leaf for 3.5, 5, and 10 minutes gives a softer profile without the sap or slight astringency that show up with the stronger parameters, but both versions are worth a try. I’ll be interested to see what you think.
A little over 2 tsp for 5 minutes (second steep upward of 10) was the sweet spot for me. Once I prepared it with those parameters, I was hooked.
I find that longer steeps bring out the sappy quality, which I actually like. I rarely restock teas, but am thinking of making an exception for this one.
I picked up a bag of this in my latest order but haven’t dipped into it yet. Will have to give your parameters a try!
Thanks! Steeping a bit less leaf for 3.5, 5, and 10 minutes gives a softer profile without the sap or slight astringency that show up with the stronger parameters, but both versions are worth a try. I’ll be interested to see what you think.
A little over 2 tsp for 5 minutes (second steep upward of 10) was the sweet spot for me. Once I prepared it with those parameters, I was hooked.
I find that longer steeps bring out the sappy quality, which I actually like. I rarely restock teas, but am thinking of making an exception for this one.