Darjeeling - Organic

This is what Neat Jane would serve if someone said "Can I have a black tea please?" Black tea at its very best.

It is a Darjeeling tea that is only available for one month of the year every 2nd year!

Tippy leaf signifies good manufacturing. Flavory muscatel character will not disappoint the discerning Darjeeling drinker. It has a bright tending linght infusion.

 80 grams

The Darjeeling is India's champagne district. It is located in Northern India at the high altitude edges of the Himalaya mountains. The main town is called Darjeeling and from the Town center on a clear day the peak of Mount Everest can be seen. 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 production is lilmited.

The best time of teh 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 described as similar to the taste and fragnance of muscat grapes.

Due to the superb taste and limited production of Darjeelings, these teas are quite expensive. there are many who wish to take advantage of the high prices and as a result there are Darjeeling blends. Regrettably these blends are quite often very poor facsimiles of Darjeeling and in some cases only contain 10% true Darjeeling teas; the balance made up from other production areas. A true estate Darjeeling is your guarantee of quality and genuine Darjeeling tea.

There are three main times of year for producing good quality Darjeelings:

1^st flush - Springtime harvested areas from late Feb to mid April. Their young leaves yield a light tea with generally intense muscatel with 'point'. A gentle afternoon tea.

2^nd flush - Harvested in June, these teas are more fully developed. The liquour is bright and the taste full and round excellent muscatel. A superb afternoon tea that is especially good with scones and rasberry conserve.

Autumnal - Not always available depending upon the weather, they are typified by a round taste and coppery liquor. Excellent as a breakfast tea with milk.

Hot Tea Brewing Method

Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tsp of tea for each cup into teapot. Add boiling water, cover and let steep 3-7 minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste. This tea is acceptable to consume 'straight up'.

Iced Tea Brewing Method

(1 Lire) Place 6 tsps of tea in a heat resistant pitcher. Add 1¼ cups freshly boiled water. Steep 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with ice water. Add steeped tea and fill with ice water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. Tea may cloud when iced due to their naturally high flavonoid/polyphenol levels