Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: small, dark
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 200 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain teacup and mesh infuser
Liquor: dark reddish amber
During a recent visit to Harney and Sons Fine Teas in SoHo, I couldn’t resist picking up a tin of this tea. My friend Robert Godden mentions this tea so frequently that I just had to give it a try. Sikkim is located just north of Darjeeling so its properties are similar to what you would expect from its more famous neighbor but the teas do not cost nearly as much. Could you believe that I only paid $8 for 3oz! The brew was brisk and somewhat floral with a sweet finish. I wouldn’t quite call it muscatel but it did have a sort of grape-ishness. Milk or sugar aren’t necessary here because it is not very astringent. While I enjoyed this tea very much hot, it was even better when I tried it iced. The flavors all became more pronounced and even more pleasing to the palate. Once the warmer weather is here I will definitely be restocking so that I can keep a pitcher of it iced in the refrigerator at all times.
Temi Sikkim purchased from Harney and Sons.