I really think I have been feeling UNDER caffeinated today, not enough tea obviously so I set out to remedy that this afternoon.
Here’s another first flush sampler from Upton. When spring arrives my thoughts turn to first flush darjeeling and shincha, evidently. :)
I steeped this up in a new glass teapot (wonder how long it will take to break this, ha!). Upton claims you can steep this at 212F but I was skeptical so I went for around 205.
The tea liquor is a beautiful dark yellow and right away I am flooded with a ton of flowery aromas in the nose. I’m not so good at picking out the scents of flowers. Is it magnolia, is it gardenia? Who knows. Whatever it is, it’s freaking awesome.
I’m also reminded a bit of pineapples here. Pineapples and honey. A sweet nectar-like infusion with a mild astringency. Definitely intoxicating! I might try to steep the rest of this sample at a slightly lower temp next time to see if I can kick out a bit of the astringency. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful and delicious tea.
I read recently that darjeelings have more in common with oolongs because unlike regular black tea, they are not fully oxidized. I concur. This tea is nothing like a black tea but there’s nowhere else to put it. Perhaps Steepster should add a new category for darjeelings.
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Pineapple and honey?!
Truly divine….
Eep… (runs to add to Upton wishlist)
Cheryl, I think the TD67: Risheehae Estate 1st Fl. is even better
I just did a review of Glenburn Estate First Flush and it was more like burgamot…maybe it was just me yesterday…will have to look at what I think next time. Interesting. I had trouble with the astringency until I added sweetening then it turned into honey!
I wonder what temp your water was? Sometimes they are better around steeped around 180 – 200F
I think that’s the one you reviewed a few days ago? If so, it’s already added also (my wishlist over there shrinks and grows, shrinks and grows, lol).
I’ll try that!
I should have ordered the Risheehat, but I do have a Glenburn sample. :)) Amy good review. Darjeelings are blacks, but sometomes there is so much green leaf in the tea that I have to agree. I think, ‘How can this be a black, with all these greenish hued leaves?’ I usually steeps my Darj’s between 190-205.
Years ago, I put sugar in every tea, but I put no sugar or milk in FF D’s.
Pineapple and honey?!
Truly divine….
Eep… (runs to add to Upton wishlist)
Cheryl, I think the TD67: Risheehae Estate 1st Fl. is even better
I just did a review of Glenburn Estate First Flush and it was more like burgamot…maybe it was just me yesterday…will have to look at what I think next time. Interesting. I had trouble with the astringency until I added sweetening then it turned into honey!
I wonder what temp your water was? Sometimes they are better around steeped around 180 – 200F
I think that’s the one you reviewed a few days ago? If so, it’s already added also (my wishlist over there shrinks and grows, shrinks and grows, lol).
I’ll try that!
I should have ordered the Risheehat, but I do have a Glenburn sample. :)) Amy good review. Darjeelings are blacks, but sometomes there is so much green leaf in the tea that I have to agree. I think, ‘How can this be a black, with all these greenish hued leaves?’ I usually steeps my Darj’s between 190-205.
Years ago, I put sugar in every tea, but I put no sugar or milk in FF D’s.