Mim Estate Darjeeling 2nd Flush

Ingredients: Luxury black tea, Single estate.
Country of Origin: Darjeeling, India
Caffeine Content: Medium
Antioxidant Level: Very High
Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Organic, Dairy-free, Sugar-free, Ethical Tea Partnership. No artificial colours or flavours
Prep: 1 heaped teaspoon of tea. 100°C for 3-7 min
 
Description: Mim is in the Darjeeling area of Northern India. From the town centre on a clear day the peak of Mount Everest can be seen. Darjeeling is known as the champagne of tea. If you have tasted supermarket Darjeeling blends you may question this. Regrettably these blends are quite often very poor blends and in some cases only contain 10% true Darjeeling teas; the balance made up from other areas. Ours is not just 100% Darjeeling it is all from a single tea estate.
The genus of the Darjeeling tea bush is the Chinese Jat, which gives it the distinctive muscatel character. Because the tea is grown at such high altitudes and in relatively cool weather the bushes do not grow quickly, and as such the production is limited. The best time of the year for quality is during second-flush (end May-end June). During this time Darjeelings are incomparable to any other tea in the world. The fragrance and taste is a complex bouquet that reaches right out of the cup. Some would describe the taste as nutty; others find it reminds them of black currants, but most often it is described as similar to the taste and fragrance of muscat grapes. There are 3 main times of year for producing good quality Darjeeling:
1st flush - springtime harvested teas from late Feb. to mid-April. The young leaves yield a light tea with generally intense muscatel with point. A gentle afternoon tea.
2nd flush - Harvested in June, these teas are more fully developed. The liquor is bright and the taste full and round excellent muscatel. A superb afternoon tea that is especially good with scones and raspberry conserve.
Autumnal - Not always available depending upon the weather, they are typified by around taste and coppery liquor. Excellent as a breakfast tea with milk.

 
Serving Suggestion: Liza has a drop of milk, Adrian likes to sip his black. For iced drinks either cold brew overnight or brew as for hot but use more tea leaves to make a more intense flavour.