Country of Origin: Kumaon
Leaf Appearance: dark and twisted
Water Temperature: 200 degrees
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Preparation Method: glass infuser
Liquor: gold
Kumoan is a little-known tea region in Northern India, but there are some very interesting things happening. Last year I interviewed Raj from Young Mountain Tea about the company’s efforts to build a farmer-owned tea factory there. You can learn more about that project at KumaonTea.org. Thankfully we can still access Kumaon teas through Young Mountain Tea while they’re getting started.
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The dry leaves were dark and mostly whole with a twisted shape. Under my photograph lights they looked a bit more green and brown. While technically a black tea, this tea received a short oxidation which tells us it is likely to be on the mild side. I noticed a lovely earthy sweet aroma when I opened the beautifully designed tin. I love that they are made from 100% recyclable steel. The labels are even 50% hemp and 50% post-consumer waste.
I prepared Kumaon Joy in a glass infuser using Young Mountain Tea’s recommendation of 200° F water with an infusion time of 3 minutes. It’s a more voluminous tea so measuring by weight is definitely the best way to go. Those beautiful leaves just won’t fit into a teaspoon for proper measurement.
Liquor
Kumaon Joy brewed up a bright gold liquor. The leaves looked quite green after steeping with visible bruising around the edges. The aroma was earthy and vegetal in a mossy sort of way. In the cup, it was smooth and sweet with floral and citrus notes followed by a subtly cinnamon-spiced finish. This tea is much closer to an oolong in flavor and texture than you might expect from a black tea. There was no bitterness but there was a slightly tangy astringency.
The second infusion was slightly hotter at 210° F for 4 minutes. The taste was more mild than the first infusion, but still very pleasant to casually sip on. I would definitely recommend this tea for anyone who isn’t usually a fan of black tea or those who enjoy lighter-bodied varieties like 1st flush Darjeeling.
Have you ever tried Kumaon Joy? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Organic Kumaon Joy sample provided by Young Mountain Tea.
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