DARJEELING MOUNTAIN MYSTIC FIRST FLUSH TEA

This tea comes from what I believe is the best garden in Darjeeling. The fresh, grapefruit-like zesty aroma is balanced with muscatel grape and a hint of something almost cinnamon like. The pale yellow yet rich liquor sits like a satisfying white wine on the tongue, with a layered palette of exotic fruit flavours, such as guava and nectarine and with the characteristic First Flush oil of wintergreen freshness. This is the best tasting Darjeeling of the season and comes from the Turzum garden. The teas from this garden are later than any other because they are so high grown, with other gardens on their 30th round of plucking. The wait is definitely worthwhile, as the complex, spring character of First Flush teas is delivered in a non-typically subtle, smooth way, that makes it the envy of other gardens. First flush teas from Darjeeling are amongst the most highly sought after in the world. The unique character of these spring teas makes them difficult to classify. They are barely oxidised so cannot truly be called black tea, although they share the same 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 aroma. 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. DJ3-JS-TUR