Ah… Darjeeling!
The aroma wafting out of my teacup is delightful – an earthy note, woodsy, but with subtle floral tones and perhaps even a slight chocolaty quality lingering in both the fragrance and the flavor. This blend of first and second flush Darjeelings is so … perfect.
The flavor of this tea is so complex. As I eluded to previously, there is a chocolaty characteristic to this tea. But there is far more to this coppery colored liquor. The earthy bouquet does not translate as strongly in the flavor – rather than describing it as “earthy” I would say that it is woodsy/toasted-nut essence, with a musky/fruity, dry wine-like quality to it. Yes, pleasantly muscatel! It has a tannic flavor – not overly bitter, but quite dry and with a nice astringency that leaves the palate feeling clean – much like sipping a very fine, dry Merlot.
Steven Smith Teamaker describes this tea as
About this Tea
Grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, this blend of first and second flush organic Darjeeling teas produces a light, yet complex tea with the aroma and flavor of fruits, nuts and flowers complemented by rich, toasty, buttery notes.
Ingredients
A blend of high grown hand-picked Indian Darjeeling first and second flush FTGFOP1 teas.
Preparation
For best flavor, bring freshly drawn filtered water to a boil. Steep five minutes. Raise your cup gently with both hands as a quiet salute before drinking.
This is a beautifully brisk Darjeeling. It would make a very fine afternoon tea – perfect for that time of day when you need a little something to get you back on track. Because it has such a wine-like attitude to it, it would also be quite nice served with dinner, or perhaps something as simple as a tray of fruit and cheese.
Because I really love the complexity of flavors in a good Darjeeling such as this, I don’t usually drink it iced – the chill would mute some of that coveted flavor. It doesn’t need sweetener – or any other additive for that matter. It’s quite good just the way it is – hot… comforting… contentment. Truly a lovely experience.
Recent Comments
"Licorice and peppermint sounds delicious. I love the packaging of this tea too. It looks really fresh and funky! Best wishes, Alex"
Fruit Infusion said, in reply to Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka on May 7, 2013 at 8:44 am
Fruit Infusion on:
Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka
"Looks way good, I already want to have it now. Thanks for the post"
Sarah said, in reply to Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka on May 6, 2013 at 8:27 am
Sarah on:
Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka
"I am a tea drinker and this cocoa shell tea has been a bit of a revelation for me. I was looking for an alternative, change of pace source of caffeine for my weekends and this fits the bill. One tablespoon brewed for 10 minutes provides a subtle chocolate taste with about the same level of caffeine as green tea, which is perfect for me. I am trying to..."
David S Pollock said, in reply to Cacao Tea from Tisano on April 29, 2013 at 12:41 pm
David S Pollock on:
Cacao Tea from Tisano
"Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka: A light refreshing tea with strong punch flavours! http://t.co/7R3PADFvz6"
TeaForDummies (@TeaForDummies) said, in reply to Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka on April 25, 2013 at 3:45 am
TeaForDummies (@TeaForDummies) on:
Peppermint and Licorice from Pukka
"Tea Review Blog http://t.co/pHnJVW6Dhl via @teareviewblog"
BunRab (@BunRab) said, in reply to Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas on April 25, 2013 at 12:23 am
BunRab (@BunRab) on:
Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas
"Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas: A very rich and hearty nut taste, almost like a nutty dessert. Try it with a sl… http://t.co/jTjcwWbov9"
TeaForDummies (@TeaForDummies) said, in reply to Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas on April 24, 2013 at 6:02 am
TeaForDummies (@TeaForDummies) on:
Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas
"A very rich and hearty nut taste, almost like a nutty dessert. Try it with a slice of pecan pie! Be Sociable,… http://t.co/jOf1V4bO4q"
Tea Review Blog (@teareviewblog) said, in reply to Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas on April 24, 2013 at 5:12 am
Tea Review Blog (@teareviewblog) on:
Chestnut Tea from Adagio Teas