A first flush Darjeeling composed of a cultivar propagated by Rohini of 2 Japanese cultivars.
The dry leaf has a unique, gentle aroma, floral but not the typical orange blossom. It’s slightly powdery, deeper. Bluish-purple like violets and blueberries. I think I also smell dried fruit sweetness, like raisins but not quite. Musk and chili leaf overtones, a basmati rice undertone.
Difficult to describe… Very clean, light, juicy, nectarlike body with a mentholated cooling, mouth-watering finish. The sweetness sits low and is delicate, like dried fruits, apricots. Very light fruity-grainy-malty taste with something tangy. I guess that’s where What-Cha’s descriptor of green olive comes into play. Delicate violet florals. The second steep reveals more on an apricot-like tanginess, maybe dry grass, a hint of that basmati rice burlap, and that very clean, salty mouth-watering finish.
It’s a fantastic, delicate thirst-quencher. Really digging it.
Flavors: Almond, Apricot, Blueberry, Cream, Dried Fruit, Dry Grass, Grain, Lime, Malt, Menthol, Nectar, Olives, Raisins, Rice, Rose, Salt, Smooth, Spicy, Tangy, Violet
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That sounds so great!
It is really nice. I have no idea how Darjeeling lovers would react. Good enough for me to brew another round for the thermos and take it on a bike-and-hike today (It’s going to be 23C!)
That sounds really interesting!
Wow. That is (or I should say ‘was’-in referring to the era when the Earth wasn’t going crazy) warm for January! My friend in Long Beach (So Cal) told me it was 96F there yesterday. smh
I guess I will buy it once I will order from Alistair again. Of course… if available.
Derk, your note makes me more excited about my sample. I was saving it for spring because it’s a first flush, but I think I will go ahead and drink it today. I was glad that Alistair added it as a sample since I was curious about it. The fact that it’s good in a tumbler also gives me some hope-some first flush blacks can be too vegetal and herbaceous for me on occasion…nevermind I like green oolong. I also need to give the oolong version of this tea another chance. It was like a spicier Baozhong.
Daylon, I’ve been leafing my Darjeeling teas usually heavier than what’s listed, around 1g:100mL. Leafhopper turned me on to steeping them for 5 minutes instead of 2 to 3. I actually didn’t test this one out in my thermos today, opting to make a dent in a 100g bag of GABA oolong. Compared to the last few first flushes I’ve had, this is not at all vegetal or herbaceous on my palate. Spicy baozhong you say? I doubt the Japonica oolong will be around when I’m ready to order again :/
Martin, it is on the delicate end. I remember you didn’t care too much for a similarly delicate Nepali black tea that I loved, but if it sounds good, go for it. I think it’s on sale right now.
And White Antlers, it got up to 82F/21C while I was on my ride. I can’t believe it either. At least we’re getting rain this year? Back down to 50s and rain next week. I think I’ve had one proper winter in the 10 years I’ve been out here.
*27C
derk: I feel my tastes varies a lot, once I am grateful to enjoy black teas, then floral, then jasmine greens and so on… I don’t acutally understand that. It confuses me, as I for example knew I something really liked and then I prepare it a few days later and I find it way worse…
You’re a moody tea drinker ;)
Apparently! Not sure if I like it, or I hate it… Haha.
That sounds so great!
It is really nice. I have no idea how Darjeeling lovers would react. Good enough for me to brew another round for the thermos and take it on a bike-and-hike today (It’s going to be 23C!)
That sounds really interesting!
Wow. That is (or I should say ‘was’-in referring to the era when the Earth wasn’t going crazy) warm for January! My friend in Long Beach (So Cal) told me it was 96F there yesterday. smh
I guess I will buy it once I will order from Alistair again. Of course… if available.
Derk, your note makes me more excited about my sample. I was saving it for spring because it’s a first flush, but I think I will go ahead and drink it today. I was glad that Alistair added it as a sample since I was curious about it. The fact that it’s good in a tumbler also gives me some hope-some first flush blacks can be too vegetal and herbaceous for me on occasion…nevermind I like green oolong. I also need to give the oolong version of this tea another chance. It was like a spicier Baozhong.
Daylon, I’ve been leafing my Darjeeling teas usually heavier than what’s listed, around 1g:100mL. Leafhopper turned me on to steeping them for 5 minutes instead of 2 to 3. I actually didn’t test this one out in my thermos today, opting to make a dent in a 100g bag of GABA oolong. Compared to the last few first flushes I’ve had, this is not at all vegetal or herbaceous on my palate. Spicy baozhong you say? I doubt the Japonica oolong will be around when I’m ready to order again :/
Martin, it is on the delicate end. I remember you didn’t care too much for a similarly delicate Nepali black tea that I loved, but if it sounds good, go for it. I think it’s on sale right now.
And White Antlers, it got up to 82F/21C while I was on my ride. I can’t believe it either. At least we’re getting rain this year? Back down to 50s and rain next week. I think I’ve had one proper winter in the 10 years I’ve been out here.
*27C
derk: I feel my tastes varies a lot, once I am grateful to enjoy black teas, then floral, then jasmine greens and so on… I don’t acutally understand that. It confuses me, as I for example knew I something really liked and then I prepare it a few days later and I find it way worse…
You’re a moody tea drinker ;)
Apparently! Not sure if I like it, or I hate it… Haha.