Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: dark green and brown with silver tipps
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic teacup and stainless steel infuser
Liquor: amber
I am very much a second flush (or Autumn, or Monsoon…) Darjeeling person. It’s not that I dislike first flush but the ones that I’ve tried tend to be a bit too green for me. This one from Udyan Tea was a bit more oxidized so it was right up my alley. The leaves were quite beautiful, both before and after brewing. Floral and malty notes danced around a robust vegetal background. There was a pleasant crispness without being overly astringent. Honeycrisp apples came to mind, making it perfect for this time of year. My second and third cups were just as enjoyable as the first. In a way, this tea had big shoes to fill because of how much I adored the AV2 Exotic Black. Whenever that happens I have to remind myself that each tea needs to be appreciated it its own right. They can’t all be incredibly complex or have amazingly beautiful leaves. That being said, this tea is an excellent example of a first flush tea that I enjoyed very much. Sometimes that’s all that really matters.
Rohini Jethi Kupi Black Tea sample provided by Udyan Tea.