Our Spring Darjeeling is an early harvest black tea from the Darjeeling region of India. Different from later harvests, this first flush has a light body and layers of character that lean toward floral with a hint of fruity notes and a crisp clean finish. Grown on the Balasun Estate, it has all of the classic notes of a first flush that are highly prized by connoisseurs across the globe.
Famous for producing some of the best quality teas, the Balasun Tea Estate (est. 1871) is spread across rolling hills with moderately gentle slope. The garden altitude varies from 365 meters to 1375 meters above sea level and temperature ranges between 44 degrees in winter to a maximum of 85 degrees in summer.
This tea contains a high level of caffeine | Steep at 212° for 2-3 minutes.
"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.
Bandana Pradhan
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