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“Backlogging and based on my memory and a few notes Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts I bought four ounces of this...” Read full tasting note
“When i purchased this I requested that full front assault experience. Yeah, this is a tea to be careful with. It’s a great Darjeeling flavor, but it turns quickly. If made over strong, or let to...” Read full tasting note
Darjeeling, India
Orthodox style: FTGFOP
A sprinkling of green “European-style” leaf
Straight-forward crisp aroma
Clear copper liquor
Steep 1 infusion at 2 – 3 minutes.
Water temperature should be 185° – 195° F
Company description not available.
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Lochan Tea LimitedBacklogging and based on my memory and a few notes
Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts
I bought four ounces of this back in the spring of 2011, and I have been brewing it off-and-on since then with temperatures a little lower than the ones I normally use for any other black tea.
I have had at least four Darjeelings to date. The first time I had this I thought it was harsh, but since then I have some to appreciate that distinctive muscatel flavor that seems to be characteristic of Darjeelings. Here is an interesting note about this tea: “I liked it better at room temperature.” I think the last time I brewed this one up I noticed a degradation in it’s flavor, so I hope to finish it up soon. It’s hard to say if I will buy any of these from Tea Trekker again; I may instead try a few samples from Upton or order a Darjeeling from H&S that my wife and I both enjoyed a sample of.
At this point I don’t feel I have to have a SF Darjeeling in my cupboard (I hope your not reading this, Excelsior) for a number of reasons (one being that I would rather stick to Chinese red teas). I have noticed that Darjeelings do not seem to do very well with multiple steepings, beyond say, two or three (I have been able to get five good steepings out of a number of quality Chinese red teas). This is my first SF Darjeeling, so I’m leaving off the rating.
(I still have some of this, so I may update this review at a later time).
When i purchased this I requested that full front assault experience. Yeah, this is a tea to be careful with. It’s a great Darjeeling flavor, but it turns quickly. If made over strong, or let to get cool, this tea will pack a serious right hook into your jaw with that bitter (or is it astringent?) flavor. Also, this is a whizz-bang tea – that is to say the buzz is fast-acting and lasts long, but also has a bit of a crash not unlike office-coffee.
Sugar and honey (esp mesquite in my opinion) add a sweetness that only takes off the edge a little. A little milk is nice too.
I agree. I can only get two steeps from the Darjeelings I have, and the there is a considerable loss of flavor on that second steep. So for large groups or if I want to drink a large amount of tea, I usually go with the Oolongs I still have from Taiwan. I can get 15+ steeps, and the 15-16th steep will still have flavor. I also like how the flavor changes during multiple steeps.
As for not having any SF Darjeelings, I take no offense. I have friends that are not too keen on Darjeelings and I cringe when they ask for milk and comment on how I should make the brew stronger. So for them, I have a nice tin of Cha Tai that goes very well with milk and sugar.
Wow 15+ steeps on the Taiwan oolongs? I bet you have some of the really good stuff, though. Slowly, I am starting to get into the Taiwan High Mountain oolongs.
It’s great that you chose to comment on this tasting note (I didn’t know if you were reading them or not). I like hearing that you find that you can’t get many steepings out of a Darjeeling, either (so I know it’s not just me).
I still like Darjeelings, and plan to continue to explore them, but they are not as high priority as other teas are to me at this time (it doesn’t help that they are so expensive). Which reminds me, I have been keeping my eye on this online retailer https://www.assamteacompany.com/home.php because they have some reasonably priced Darjeelings, and when I order from them I feel I am ordering from a retailer that is ‘at the source, so-to-speak. I hope to order from them sometime (as they are have some Darjeelings that are ’green’—as in non-oxidized), possibly next year.
The 15+ steepings amounted to 5 liters of tea. We emptied my parents 4 liter electric water heater, added another liter and ended up draining that as well. I’ll try to post my review of the 2012 FF Ambootia over the weekend. For an oxidized Darjeeling, the taste was as green as it gets.