DARJEELING MANGO TREE GARDEN SECOND FLUSH BLACK TEA

Elderflower, roses, cherry, tangerine, mandarin, tonka bean, freesia, Medjool dates...just a few of the flavours and fragrances picked out by our discerning customers in this tantalising tea. It has a sweet 'muscatel' fragrance and I think it is one of the few teas that is intriguingly different every time that you brew it.. The Ambootia garden in the North Kurseong Valley has been at the forefront of the growing organic movement in Darjeeling and has also led the way in creating unusual tea types like white and oolong. It was one of the first tea gardens planted by the British in 1861 and was one of the first gardens to become Fairtrade certified in 1994. It sits at an altitude between 3500 to 5000ft. It is also farmed according to 'biodynamic' principals, one part of which involves farming by the cycles of the moon. This exquisite and subtle infusion has the sweetest Darjeeling 'muscatel' fragrance. Ambootia means 'Land of the Mango Trees'. The second flush term refers to teas plucked during May to June in the gardens of Darjeeling. Each 'invoice' from the 80 or so gardens is unique and amounts to approximately just 90kgs. The best of these teas are picked with the bushes in full sap during a short period in late June and early July. The famous 'muscatel' character is truly in evidence then. It is variously described as reminiscent of muscatel grapes, a fragrance like a rose garden in bloom or the sweet scent of peach skin and honey. 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 Rainforest Alliance. 1904 AMBOOTIA