Thunderbolt Tea

Much darker in colour and rather stronger in flavour compared with other first flush Darjeeling teas. Drinking a cup in comparison with the Arya autumnal flush from last year. The Ruby has a distinctly greener taste, less fruity, although it is also a bit toasty. Less muscatel flavor in teas from this estate? They both have the flavor profile that I associate with Darjeeling but it is subdued. This is a lovely tea to look at, the leaves are extremely long, thick and beautifully twisted.

Enjoying a cup of this in company with some first flush Ruby from the same estate. Wet leaves had aromas of chocolate, kind of keemun-y, and then hints of raspberries. The tea also has keemun like flavors and is more fruity/toasty in flavour compared with the greener taste of the first flush. Liking it a lot. Am sure that these two teas will cure what ails me today (namely a bad headache and lack of tea).

A little sample of this was kindly included in my recent order from Thunderbolt Tea, thanks guys! The leaves are large, twisty and range in colour from copper to black and after infusing they are coppery with hints of green. In taste and smell (dry or brewed) this reminds me more of a Keemun than a Darjeeling, it is smooth and chocolatey with none of the fruity or brisk notes that I normally expect. Very enjoyable.

One of my favorites. Yummy, fruity, light, refined. Gets fruiter as it ages, methinks.

There’s nothing else to say except that this is an absolutely perfect 2nd Flush Darjeeling. Steeped in spring or glacier water and you have liquid excellence.

Full Review:

http://www.teaviews.com/2010/03/04/review-thunderbolt-tea-giddapahar-musk-09-second-flush/

So, this tea was a strange one. The leaves and the actual tea itself smelled and tasted COMPLETELY different. Now my palate might be “off” but this tea really smelled like lime and green pepper, but tasted like a rubber hose (literally) as well as STRONG flavors of mozzarella cheese! It reminded me of string cheese, the kind that we used to get at my house on certain occasions. SO Strange. I don’t know if I would drink it again for taste, rather I would drink it to find more flavors in it! Crazy for a Darjeeling Green!

Check out the full video review at http://teacast.net

This is such a pretty green tea – great long wiry twisted leaves and buds of green and white, with a bit of tan. Totally unlike an Asian green – at least in my limited experience. Very delicate, a little floral, a little sweet, a little mild nut. Very very nice tea

a lovely tea, great flavor, gorgeous orange red color. I may keep some in a jar for these ugly gray days! If I can stop drinking it. Be careful how long you brew it, I am going to try 2.5 min next

Love the fresh musk flavour!

As the site says, very mild, flowery and buttery. Perhaps just the tiniest, tiniest smoky hint, which is not at all unwelcome. A pale cup, but not as much as some Darjeelings.

Opinion on first sippage — excellent, light, well rounded, but perhaps lacking some of the nuance of some Darjeelings. Still thoroughly recommended though.