The end of August saw me and my family on a 12-day trip to England and Ireland. I had to stop at a few tea shops, natch, including Fortnum & Mason in London, where I got this lovely 2nd flush darjeeling. I wanted to buy out the shop, but with budget and suitcase space in mind, I had to limit my selections. So glad I got this one though. The dry note is so floral and rich that I just want to keep sniffing it even without making the tea. The wet leaves are less floral, but still rich and chewy, more like wet wood (oak?). The taste has a surprising touch of honey and is overall warm and deep. I know that first flushes are a connoisseur’s delight – kind of the Beaujolais nouveau of the tea world – but this kind of flavor is why I lean more toward the second flush teas. I have enough of this to last me a little while, but if anyone is going to London, I recommend picking up a couple ounces of this.
Flavors: Floral, Honey, Oak, Wet Wood
