DARJEELING HOUSE OF GREEN LEAVES FIRST FLUSH TEA

This rare, completely handmade tea has a golden-yellow infusion and is highly aromatic. It has a smooth, complex floral character with a freshly baked biscuit quality. The lively infusion sparkles and bursts with flavour in the mouth at once sweet, vanilla-like and jasmine, lavender, orchid floral. Red mango, citrus, green apple and almond tones can also be picked out. It has a mild astringency that leaves the tongue with a sweet aftertaste. Teesta garden consistently produces the highest qualities with distinctive character. First flush teas from Darjeeling are amongst the most highly sought after in the world. The unique character of these spring teas from the foothills of the Himalayas makes them difficult to classify. They are barely oxidised so cannot truly be called black tea, although they share the same briskness and rich flavour. The infusion is as pale as a green tea but very different in flavour, so we cannot place them in that category either. Typically, the best qualities, which are the teas we deal in, have a fragrant, floral character, a refreshing, complex infusion and in the dry leaf an aroma reminiscent of fresh blackcurrants on the bush. The teas we source are from gardens where sound social and environmental policies are in place. They belong to many associations including IMO, USDA Organic, India Organic, Ethical Tea Partnership, Fairtrade, UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance. DJ4-JS-TUK