Arya Classic Darjeeling First Flush Organic Black Tea

Summer Vacation! Here is the second of the Arya darjeeling teas in my collection… and as it turns out, I had them mixed up, looking at my self-labeled sampler packet this morning, which is labeled as the “Arya Classic First Flush.” Which means the one I drank yesterday night was the second flush, and I reviewed it in the wrong place. Oops. So I had to delete my previous review and move it to the correct location, so if you are getting deja vu, that’s what happened… sorry for the mistake, but it’s fixed now! This tea is also courtesy of the Here’s Hoping Traveling Teabox, so thanks to tea-sipper for organizing and all the lovely folks who contributed.

This tea brewed up a much paler orange color than the second flush Arya tea I sampled last night. The aroma from the cup still smells very sweet and fruity to me, almost tropical… a bit like a POG juice. The flavor of the tea tastes more like and delicate than the second flush I sampled last night… it doesn’t have that deeper, malty note. Rather, it almost makes me think of a white tea, as there is this deeply floral taste to the brew, with a slight vegetal undertone. I’m still getting some orange fruity notes to the cup, as well, which is seems to share with the other Arya tea.

I’m enjoying this tea as well, and I’d say all in all darjeelings may be Indian teas I need to explore, while it is assams that just aren’t my thing. I am really curious how that other darjeeling may have faired, if T2 hadn’t botched the directions so badly (or perhaps it just was that low of quality, and was just a really astringent tea… who knows!) Between these two Arya teas, I really like both, though think I like the second flush just a touch more; I think the second flush makes a better breakfast tea and the first flush a better light afternoon tea/high tea sort of sip, though. And it is the sort of thing I’d prefer if I’m in one of my floral moods (which tend to take me often).