Whittard of Chelsea

I will admit, while most consider Darjeeling the “champange” of teas, it has taken me a long time to appreciate them. Part of it was just my tastes lie elsewhere (Oolongs!!) and coninue to evolve, part of it may be the hype some darjs get never lives up.

So when I went tasting/shopping at Wittard of Chelsea a couple of weeks ago in London – I was suprised that I walked out with mostly darjs. This one is from the Tukdah estate, a 1st flush super grade, whole leaf masterwork. The loose teas itself looks more like a full green or an oolong, and has that sweet/vegetal smell of short fermented tea. 1st flush = 1st picking of the year, and these are the tenderest, most delicate buds and leaves – usually that need short fermenting, and moderate drying.

A bright yellow green in the cup, with a delicate perfumey/tangy nose common to darjeeling, but also a light grassy green hint. The taste is soft, tangy, brightness – floral in the warm spring morning way. After has just a hint of astringency, with a light mouth feel. This is why Darj heads wait for spring 1st flush – this is pure heaven in a cup, and begs your finest bone china, and cucumber sandwiches and a dear friend to drink it with.

4tsp tea (this is a very loose teas) in 16oz boiling water 4 mintues in my “good” teapot.

I got this one in a trade once with someone who had tried the Lemon tea from Whittard of Chelsea and found they didn’t like it and therefore assumed they wouldn’t like this either. Their loss, my gain. The very first time I smelled the dry leaves I knew without a doubt that I had found my ideal strawberry tea. It smells very sweet of strawberry, but not overly synthetic. You can see lots of bits of strawberries and strawberry leaves in the tea. The finished brew smells nicely of strawberries too, but not overwhelming the smell of the tea. The flavour is the same. It tastes primarily like tea, but with a sweet and fruity addition to it.