Organic 2014 Puttabong Darjeeling First Flush

This was part of a FF sampler pack I got from Happy Earth this past spring. I had heard there was a drought in darjeeling and wonder if that might be affecting the quality of the teas.

I did one steep of this at around 195 F and found it to be kind of bitter with apricot and peach notes. But I wasn’t enjoying the cup, due to the bitterness.

I decided to start over again and brew another sample at a lower temperature. This time I would try to brew it like a green tea. I got better results this way, the bitterness retreated and the fruity notes became more prominent, as well as some nutty ones. Compared to the 2012 Puttabong ff I had a few years ago, this is more harsh and less flavorful. Glad I got to try it, but also glad I didn’t buy a larger size. Much better experience with the Sungma and Risheehat…

This tea brewed an amber colored liquor and immediately gave off a strong punch of apricots, trailed by a musky honey scent. The first taste—still too hot—yielded an indistinct malt-floral taste. Later after allowing to cool further, the liquor still seemed mild and subdued, and so with a third sip, I vigorously aerated it in my mouth and was hit with a powerful sense of syrupy ripe fruit and sweetened flowers, which, after swallowing, gave way to a dry, slightly sour tang. It, too, was pleasant.

The tea seems to do best at room temperature. At the tail end of my cup, after it had gone completely cold, the aroma seemed more developed and open, and all the different things I had tasted had finally married into a balanced harmony.

Between this and the Singbulli First Flush I tasted last night, the Puttabong definitely comes in second. But these two teas are far and away superior to most of my previous experiences with tea.

Backlog:

I really loved this past spring because I got some remarkable, stunning, amazing first flush Darjeeling teas. Normally, I am more excited about the second flush (I love that muscatel) but the first flush this year was rather outstanding and I enjoyed the teas that I’ve tried.

Here is my full-length review of this Darjeeling: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/06/01/organic-2014-puttabong-darjeeling-first-flush-from-happy-earth-tea/

This is a sweet, delightful tea. The fragrance is delicate. Notes of earth, crisp floral notes and notes of fruit. Surprising notes of grape which I don’t usually expect from a first flush but this one is distinctly grape-y! Some astringency develops as I continued to sip, offering a slightly dry finish.

Happy Earth Tea rocks!