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“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...” Read full tasting note
“Hey everyone! I will review this tea later. Time to bolt for lunch. Here are a few songs that are fun-say for a party and/or a good time! Enjoy!!...” Read full tasting note
“I’ve never done First Flush Darjeeling sampling when the crop was fresh before. In fact, I’ve only had two FF Darjeelings ever. They tasted decent, and so I decided to buy several samples from...” Read full tasting note
“Finished this off today. Upton’s description is on the money. Usually, Darjeelings are not my first choice, but this one is a nice change this morning. It is gentle but very flavorful, and I don’t...” Read full tasting note
This 2012 selection is comprised of the first tender shoots of the new season’s growth. The tender fine plucking has a generous portion of white/silvery tips, and exudes a lovely floral character. The lemon yellow infusion is light, yet flavorful, with a perfect balance of flowery nuances and sweet flavor notes.
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Upton Tea ImportsI 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.
Hey everyone! I will review this tea later. Time to bolt for lunch. Here are a few songs that are fun-say for a party and/or a good time! Enjoy!! :))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e37DBJ2SBYw&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QSyaBHr1jU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCy8Xtp2P20&feature=related
Later…….
I’m back, and WOW, what another beautiful, warm sunny day! I got a sample of this a couple weeks ago, and it is so different-AMAZING! In the dry leaf, I was getting a creamy sweetness, and lots of flowers. The leaves are mostly green and tippy white, and I think I know why I call It creamy. The tippy white leaves add a softer, sweet, creamy texture-which I love. :))
I used at least 1.5 tsp for a 9 oz cup. As the tea steeped I was getting alot of white foam on top, nice sweetness, alot of flowery aromas, and fruits too. The cup color was yellow/orange-put another way, a very lightly orange hued color. In cup aroma, I was getting some fruits, but this cup is alot more flowery; but what flowers? Gardenia came to mind, but something else. What? I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I had to taste the cup at this point, constantly swirling the tea around my mouth. I thought it was extremely smooth-honestly buttery. Then it hit me! This tea is flowery like buttercups, or the yellow heads of dandelions. I know I used enough leaf, and I know I steeped it 3 minutes. I have NEVER had a Darjeeling tea so smooth, yet it had definite qualities of a Darjeeling tea! If there was astringency-for me it was slight, because I really had a hard time detecting it. That is not a bad thing. It is a big part of why it was so amazing! Normally, I like more astringency, but in this case I didn’t miss it at all. :))
This tea is so savory and delicious! I’m gonna go have another cup. :)) More to come! Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKj30Ltiqxk&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHU7EdyAYrg&feature=related
I added 1 tsp new leaf to steeped leaves to see IF I could get more astringency. I do this mainly because I try to coax different flavors and aromas from the tea (200 for 3 min,). I was still getting alot of foam on top while the leaves were steeping. At this point I was getting light asparagus, and light grape aromas. Wet tea leaves smelled less flowery. I was thinking white grapes at this point, and they had more of a white grape fruitiness.
Surprisingly, the cup color was only slightly darker-still yellow/orange in color. Aromas in the cup were a little heavier in sweetness-with a light honey aroma, and light muscat grape aroma. Even after the leaves from the first cup were steeped 6 minutes now, the astringency on my palate was light-again, I’m thinking white grapes.
This is such a unique, smooth, sweet, and delicious Darjeeling tea that is unlike any other I’ve tasted! Let me tell you, it’s harder to settle for lesser Darjeelings (or other types of tea), when you taste a top tier selection like this one! One could go broke quickly buying teas like this one all the time. :-// Note to self:’ You must exhibit self control!’. Or I can find ways to divert my attention. Like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HulT8reO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I18pVZVUbVE&feature=related
It might work sometimes anyway! :))
Cupped & Reviewed: Tuesday, May 15, 2012. THE IDES OF MAY!
Review complete, if anyone wants to read it?!?!
Very good! I wish I could think of more things to write about a tea sometimes. But this was certainly delicious, wasn’t it?
I ordered this yesterday-am anxious to try it.
Agree with Amy. Your reviews make mine look amateur (but of course in reality, they are : )
Amy: Sometimes I wonder if I’m too verbose….like I said in my review the other day, ’Sometimes I ramble on….and on…and on. Sometimes I try to add a bit of humor-probably more funny to me than most others. That said, I really to try to be honest in my reviews-for everyone on Steepster. :)) Yes, it was delicious! :))
Thanks Cheryl! Do you guys and gals think when I talk about the dry leaf, wet leaf, etc-that it’s to much…….like BLAH BLAH BLAH! Sometimes I think it is, but I do it so I can remember more about the tea. :))
Cheryl- Good Live Vid.:))
Scott: Write what you want, first and foremost. For me personally, when I’m reading dashboard reviews, I usually read the entire review. If I’m doing a testing of a particular tea, I’ll read for key words, steeping parameters, etc. If I’m reading to see if it’s something I might want to buy, it all depends how undecided I am : ) Bottom line: you are you. Be you.
Me is me. Hey, my sis used to live in Deleware OH, then she had to move to Santa Fe NM, then on to OR.
Cheryl, that was very well put. I completely agree.
I do follow a lot of people on Steepster so I have mixed feelings about really long reviews. A few people fall into the downright boring category and I don’t read a word they say, but yours are not (in my humble opinion). Sometimes when a review is really long I will just skim it for the important details.
I agree with Cheryl that you should write what you want though. I think of Steepster as a tea diary of sorts
Thanks! :)) Hey, I follow and read alot of reviews, but some people I still “FOLLOW”-like TeaEqualsBliss (and others), and there reviews, comments, etc., don’t show up in my Dashboard.Does anyone have the same issue??
Scott… haven’t been to Delaware in years. My bro used to live there too. “Home” to me is Columbus/Westerville area, although I’m north of that for now (Knox Co.). Are you in Toledo? : )
(goes to look at who Amy is following, lol) Kidding aside, I admit, I do skim some faster than others, mainly because I’m not interested in the tea (coz of category or company…like (gasp) David’s).
Near Cleveland…….yeah I pass on most Davids Teas, and Rooibos-except maybe the Chai Rooibos, ’cause I like Chai
You are probably too young to remember, but Columbus and Cleveland used to have quite the rivalry. Being called Cowtown was motivating though, apparently.
Maybe I am,…….but not sure.
I’ve never done First Flush Darjeeling sampling when the crop was fresh before. In fact, I’ve only had two FF Darjeelings ever. They tasted decent, and so I decided to buy several samples from Upton. BTW-Upton ships so fast with standard shipping!
The white and silver tips in the dry leaves are beautiful. Dry leaf aroma is more floral than I expected, but not unpleasant. Indeed, there was a lot of foam as this tea steeped. The brewed leaves were mostly a pungent floral with maybe a vegetal note stuck in.
At this point, I am tending to agree this has oolong characteristics. The liquor is more yellowish with orange mixed in. The floral notes in the flavor remind me of a green oolong-not my favorite. There is one floral note that reminds me of a specific flower-unfortunately I cannot recall what that is just yet. I do detect a hint of pineapple which is nice.
I don’t think I liked this much on the first sip, but was starting to get used to the flavor before it cooled too much and became overwhelmingly floral. Not sure just yet how I feel about this. I’ll try this at least once more before giving it a numerical rating.
Finished this off today. Upton’s description is on the money. Usually, Darjeelings are not my first choice, but this one is a nice change this morning. It is gentle but very flavorful, and I don’t find it to be astringent. The flavor is reminiscent of some leafhopper teas I’ve had, but since it is a 1st flush, not sure if leafhoppers are feeding on the leaves that early. Very nice way to start the day.
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.