What is a Darjeeling Tea?
If you are new to tea you have probably seen all kinds of "fancy" labels on both tea bags and loose tea. Words like Oolong, Rooibos, and Darjeeling are hard to pronounce, let alone understand their meaning. This post is designed to explain Darjeeling.
Darjeeling - pronounced dahr - jee - ling is a type of tea that comes from the Darjeeling area of India. This is a famous area for tea production. The region started producing tea in the 1850's and still continues today. For a tea to be called Darjeeling, it has to have come from that area of India. The flavors of darjeeling tea are often more tasteful and potent than a regular black tea because of where the plants are grown. Unique atmospheric conditions abound in Darjeeling which include cold, dry windy nights with high humidity and low temperatures year round. It is difficult to find such conditions elsewhere and they help to produce delicious tea leaves.
Traditionally darjeelings were black teas, but the plantations are now producing green and white darjeelings. At A Tea Affair we have a special first flush black darjeeling now available. First flush means: the first leaves picked off the tea plant during the current season. First flush teas are typically picked in the spring, before the plants have been stressed, resulting in a mild flavor and light color after steeping.
Our first flush variety is called Monteviot First Flush Darjeeling. This indicates the tea came from the Monteviot tea plantation in India. It steeps to a light green color, and it has a delicate fruit/floral flavor to it. Our Tea Affair staff has all drank this tea and have found it to be a delightful flavor. It is for sale in our Sturgis Lane store and also online:
