Margaret's Hope Premier Moonlight 2023 First Flush

The dry tea leaves of this Margaret’s Hope First Flush Tea Darjeeling Tea fall into the larger category with chunky silver tips. We have noticed a higher content of buds/tips this year. The leaf appearance of this Margaret’s Hope Premier Moonlight Tea is dominated by an overall greenish, slightly pale yellow look which comes ornamented with different colors of various shades of green, all blended perfectly to give it a definite style and color – an attractive bloom. Two leaves and a bud are prominent and visible. The chunky silver tips are marvelously covered with grayish-white sheen reflecting the silver hairs. This gives a definite luster.

We placed the tea leaves in a container and added few drops of hot water, enough to wet the tea leaves: the result was an unexpected overwhelming chocolate-vanilla like aroma. Try it and know for yourselves. This trick has been explained on our blog post on how to drink Darjeeling Tea under the heading, “Insider Aroma Tip”.

The tea leaves are rather light weight and voluminous needing a larger container for storage. It has a very sweet and fresh aroma, honey toned accompanied by mild white chocolate like fragrance. Some spicy characteristics are prominent. Margaret’s Hope First Flush Darjeeling also resembles some aromatic characteristics to that of freshly baked vanilla cake. A complex underlying notes of spring flowers present itself as a welcoming note and makes you realize that you are about to drink one of the highest grade Darjeeling tea First Flush variety. A lovely work of art by the tea makers of Margaret’s Hope Tea garden!

Infusion or Wet Tea leaves (Margaret’s Hope Tea)
This Margaret’s Hope Premier Moonlight gets a lovely bright and lively infusion. The wet leaves are quite large and has an overall greenish appearance with a mix of bottle green, brown and slight yellow colors. The slightly yellow-brown mixed with green are commonly representing the buds which comes as two leaves and a bud, visible and prominent. It has a lovely thoroughly pronounced sweet floral nose. This Margaret’s Hope Tea has some spicy characteristics similar to a mix of cumin seeds and pepper. It also has a varied range of fresh and fruity aroma which intrigues the mind. The aroma makes you wanna taste the cup soon. The lovely bright infusion depicts the next story of its life history, a quality liquor in the tea cup.

Cup or Liquor characteristics (Margaret’s Hope Moonlight Darjeeling)
This 2023 Margaret’s Hope Moonlight Darjeeling has a marvelous light and bright golden-yellow brew which denotes good and careful manufacture and hence a sign of high grade quality tea. It has a rich mellow liquor with an excellent brisk character. Margaret’s Hope Moonlight Tea cup appears smooth as you sip on. As you are rolling your tongue, a very light astringency can be experienced. The lively taste in the liquor comes compact with various levels of complex fruity and floral character. There is this overwhelming sweetness that fills your mouth and spreads in all directions. It also tastes somewhat nutty like almonds. The overwhelming sweetness which spreads as soon as you sip in, retains even after you have gulped in. This also forms the aftertaste which lingers for quite sometime.

BREWING TIPS
Water
Use plain filtered or spring water abundance in oxygen. Do not re-use already boiled water for the taste may appear flat.

Temperature
It can be from 175-185 Degree F. Since the tea leaves are larger and delicate, higher temperatures seem to cook it. If your water is too hot, let it cool down for a while.

Quantity of Tea leaves
Standard procedure says 2.5 grams per 100 ml of water, but may not be correct as it is complex due to different cultivars, leaf sizes and make. For this it is recommended you use around one and a half tea spoonful per mug of tea.

Steeping Time
Steeping time for this tea is 3-4 minutes.