Fresh From Origin
"First Flush" refers to the first harvest of spring which begins in March through April. The first new growth or “flush” pushes nutrients into the young plant tips as the plant comes to life after a long cold dormant winter. The new growth contains the most catechins, which have antioxidant properties. They also contain the highest amount of L-theanine, an amino acid found only in tea, known for its calming effects and caffeine, a stimulant. Spring tea is typically a light yellow to coppery red cup color, with a delicate flowery aroma. It is a brisk tea and very delicate with a short shelf life.
Brewing Spring Darjeeling tea is more akin to brewing a green tea than a black tea, even though it is produced as a black tea. The tea leaf is slightly green in color and taste as well. The first flush Darjeeling is quite delicate and should be drunk before autumn arrives. Steep in hot water below the boil for under three minutes as you would a green tea for the best results. Though this depends heavily on your personal preference. Our Tea Master recommends trying this particular harvest at 212 for no more than three minutes.
As the growing season progresses the first flush teas are quite different than second flush teas produced in the summer months.
Free Sample Offer
If you buy this tea from another vendor, we invite you to try a free sample. Simply email a receipt showing an earlier purchase of the "balasun first flush" tea to
masters@adagio.com and we'll mail you a free sample of this tea to compare. We're convinced that you'll be impressed with its quality and value.
