This tea features a magnificent aroma characterized by the collaboration of sweet mango-like fruity notes and floral scents.
Why You Shouldn't Judge Tea Quality by the Name of the Tea Garden
Even within the same tea garden, quality can vary by batch. Factors such as the garden's location and processing conditions can significantly affect the tea's quality.
Some people evaluate the price and quality of tea based on the name of the tea garden. However, Indian tea gardens are vast corporate entities that often own large areas of land, encompassing entire mountains.
Therefore, the same tea garden name can cover elevations ranging from a few hundred meters to nearly 2000 meters, resulting in varied quality. To obtain good tea, it is crucial to conduct tastings and evaluate the quality and characteristics of each batch individually.
When selecting Darjeeling tea, we prioritize the breadth of its flavor and the depth of its taste. Good tea has depth in both taste and aroma, with a long-lasting fragrance in the throat. Additionally, aspects of tea processing, such as the degree of fermentation and heat treatment, cannot be assessed solely from the name of the tea garden.
The Green Color of First Flush Tea is Intentional
First Flush refers to the first harvest of the season, typically in spring. The green color of the tea leaves is achieved by intentionally shortening the fermentation time. If the fermentation time is extended, the tea can develop a color similar to Autumnal teas.
Why First Flush Tea Appears on the Market as Early as February-March
Darjeeling First Flush starts appearing on the market in February. Despite Darjeeling being located at the same latitude as Fujian Province in China and Taiwan, and north of Yunnan Province, the tea can be harvested as early as February and March because it comes from tea gardens at lower elevations.
Lower elevation gardens experience spring earlier. In Darjeeling, the younger the DJ number, the earlier the batch was produced, often incorporating tea from lowland gardens.
We Select First Flush Tea from High-Elevation Gardens
It is not just tea; the principle applies to vegetables and fruits as well: the higher the elevation, the better the quality of the produce, including tea. The flavor and aroma are more attractive at higher elevations. We focus on the elevation of the tea garden, not just the DJ number, when sourcing our tea.
