Picked this tea up from Tea Emporium yesterday. I’m not a black tea lover but the lady there told me about this black tea and was sure I would like it because I like buttery teas. When I smelled it there was a lovely buttery scent. Leaves were pretty much like in the picture here- very light looking. I was mystified that this was called a black tea. The name on the package reads Thurbo Oriental Moon 2014 and she told me it was a first flush so I’m almost sure when I found this one on Steepster it’s the same.
It was very mild, light, and buttery for a black tea but still had elements that definitely made it black. I liked it so much I went for a second infusion which was still good. No , I don’t love it as much as my green teas but it’s a nice change and definitely a black tea I will enjoy occasionally .
I think I’ve heard before that darjeelings, especially first flush, tend to be more delicate than normal black teas and you should use cooler water. I tend to stay around 185 or cooler and have had much better results.
First flush is also milder than second flush. Leans a bit toward green tea.