We asked Ellen, the owner and official tea sommelier of The Novel Tea, and here’s what she had to say!
My go to favorite and comfort tea is a first flush Darjeeling from India. Darjeeling is considered the champagne of tea because it is the first picking of the newest leaves from the Western Bengal area of India at the foothills of the Himalayas. The elevation and terroir imparts a wonderful pure tea taste that has a slight astringency and muscatel qualities. Second flush Darjeeling is also a personal favorite with a slightly rounded fuller flavor and not quite as astringent as first flush. Traditional Earl Grey tea is made with a second flush Darjeeling flavored with Chinese’s bitter orange oil of bergamot. Because of the exacting standards for harvesting, withering and oxidizing Darjeeling, it is very often one of the more expensive black Indian teas, but so worth it. It is one of the few teas that can be steeped and enjoyed at any time of day or evening.
Ellen of The Novel Tea
You can find Darjeeling in our online shop. Give it a shot and you won’t regret it!
Champagne Darjeeling
a delicious, smooth darjeeling for a sophisticated tea drinker
Tea and crumpets,
Ashley
