Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: small, dark and somewhat twisted with scattered golden tips
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain teacup and mesh infuser
Liquor: bright reddish-brown
When the cool weather starts to arrive I get some serious cravings for second flush Darjeeling. Happy Earth Tea is one of my go-to sources so I grabbed this tea from the Singbulli Estate when the mood struck. The steeped tea had a beautiful bright coppery red color. It doesn’t affect the taste but I always enjoy when a tea is pretty to look at. On my first sip I was immediately able to see why this tea is called “vintage musk”. There was a heavy yet earthy floral element that lingered in my palate. Underneath the flower power was alternating notes of muscatel and malt. The finish was naturally sweet and had a pleasant peppery kick. Just the right amount of astringency added a refreshing briskness. Overall this brew was wonderfully complex and full-bodied. I definitely see myself reaching for it again as fall rolls onward into the chill of winter. Darjeeling is my comfort tea and this one is a perfect example of that. This is the fourth selection that I’ve reviewed from this company and I have been very impressed with them all so far.
You can find out more about this tea here.