Tea 101: Get to know our Darjeeling
One of my favourite teas in the world is the Darjeeling. After tasting over thousands cups of teas over the years, the Darjeeling still holds a very special place in my heart.
Darjeeling is actually a location but when we refer to the tea, we are talking about tea that is grown just outside Kalimpong in Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, India. Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful locations in India, its mountains used to host the hill stations the British would escape to during the hot Indian summers during the Colonial days.
Darjeeling tea is a cammellia var sinensis which is the same species as Chinese teas. Other teas grown in India such as Assam are made from camellia var Assamese, a tea species that is native to India. A Chinese tea grown on Indian terroir, the flavour of Darjeeling tea is complex, lighter than most black teas, with a citrusy and muscatel notes and a robust mouthfeel. It is complex enough to delight but casual enough to be consumed on a daily basis.
Usually drunk plain, without tea or sugar - Darjeeling is my go-to tea for sipping a hot cup through out the day. You can drink it with some milk or sugar, if you want to. I mean, I don't want you to but life is boring if we only do things one way.
It takes time to train your tastebuds for tea - so for those budding tea enthusiasts, we have a selection that we recommend to get your tea education started.
Beginners tea recommendation: Darjeeling blend, our Darjeeling Earl Grey, Darjeeling Green tea
Intermediate drinkers: Castleton, Margaret’s Hope, Thurbo.
Advanced: Darjeeling white tea