Organic Arya Ruby Darjeeling First Flush

I’ve had a lot of this tea for some time, and I wanted to wait to make it through all of what I had until I reviewed. The tea is beautiful! The dry leaf consists of long whole leaf curls with an array of colors. They range from brilliant green to dusted silver. These gorgeous leaves give off an intoxicating scent of daisies and winter honey. They are just sweet and flowery. I usually drink this every morning before work, and I pack my tetsubin full of this beautiful Darjeeling. This morning I did just the same. I brewed up a pot and took in the scent of the steeped leaves. They still carry that floral scent, but it’s mixed with some burnt sugar and other tannic sweetness. The cuppa is perfect. This by far one of my favorite Darjeelings to date. The brew is much darker and carries thicker tones than most First Flushes, for the tea is more oxidized. This difference in processing makes the tea a rather unique Darjeeling. The taste is phenomenal! The initial sip begins with a drying floral sweetness, and then it moves into a smooth nuttiness. I detect silky caramel in the background that moves throughout the tastes. This tea has a ton of mouth action. The brew begins with an oily base that coats the mouth and throat, and then the oil dries and leaves the mouth, throat, and belly with a wonderful cooling effect. The brew has very little astringency and carries so many complimenting flavors. The drink is crisp and cool, yet it’s also heavy and full bodied. I enjoy drinking this every morning, and I’m sorry to see it go. However, it’s getting to that time of year and I’m very excited for 2016’s harvest. I highly recommend this tea to Darjeeling connoisseurs and novices alike. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, a brief word about the company. I was recommended this tea from a friend awhile back when I was searching for the perfect Darjeeling. I looked this company up and low and behold they were local for me. If you ever in the Western New York area you must stop in. This company’s tea studio is beautiful and the owner is most hospitable. In fact, some of my most memorable tea sessions happened in that studio. The atmosphere is perfect, and the tea is top notch.

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I am definitely happy with this ff darjeeling sample I got from Happy Earth tea.

I brewed up my whole 5g sample because I was using a tea tumbler for this one. The predominate note I am getting is fruity. I thought peach/nectarine but it has a little bit of pineapple too. There seems to be a slight nuttiness about it as well. Only a hint of astringency in the finish but that might be because I steeped it too long. I did get a 2nd steep out of this that brought forth more pineapple and slight lemony notes.

I’m more active on IG nowadays. I follow Happy Earth Tea. they have beautiful pictures. Once they mentioned tasting session of Spring 2015 teas in Rochester, NY. I really wanted to try those teas and they offered to send me some samples.

Today i was brave to face First Flush Darjeeling. Ive had some before but it was never a success. FF tend to be more finicky. i wasnt paying attention to temps and time at that time (maybe like 8 yrs ago roughly). so i gave up.

Im so glad that they sent me samples outside of my comfort zone. I used website parameters. instead of 1tbsp i measured 3g. 190F 8oz

The dry leaves have intoxicating aroma of spring wild flowers. they are long greenish grey color.
Once i brew it the aroma of tea was so strong. the tea is refined, delicate, appropriate for afternoon teatime.
it has apricot, nectarine flavor along with raw nuts, slighly citrusy. it does develop slight astringency almost by the end of the cup. not unpleasant but rather welcoming.
This tea is complex and ever changing. it had different notes by the end when i finish it.
It doesnt require anything. no sugar ,no milk. no cheese.
It should be savored on its own.

I did try to resteep @5min. it was decent but not even close to a first cup. Darjeeling teas usually not very good with resteeps and its fine by me. one cup of this tea is enough to think about it.

im so glad i was able to try such an exquisite tea. Thank you Happy Earth Tea for sending it my way

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Backlog:

A beautifully sweet tea! I loved the first flush teas that I enjoyed this spring and summer from Happy Earth Tea. A beautiful dry leaf produced a coppery cup of tea that was delightfully fragrant with notes of grape and flower.

Notes of raisin and peach. The floral notes have been subdued somewhat by the fruity sweetness but as I continued to sip, the floral notes emerged more.

By mid cup, I started to pick up on a delightful note of chocolate. Caramel and cacao. Yum! One of the best Darjeeling teas that I’ve enjoyed this year.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/08/15/2014-organic-arya-ruby-darjeeling-first-flush-from-happy-earth-tea/