— Color of liquor: Reddish copper brown
— Aroma: Slight muscatel, slight floral
— Flavors: Muscatel, slight cherry, slight astringent
About five years ago, I had a wonderful second flush Darjeeling from Goomtee Estate from another tea company that had an excellent apricot base to the flavor. I have been thinking about this tea and hoping to find one that is similar in recent pickings, so I thought I’d try this one purchased from Upton, hoping the terroir of the estate is what gave my previous tea that apricot flavor. This one is lacking the apricot base I was hoping for, but does have a pleasant muscatel flavor, with a hint of cherries. Astringency was low, but enough to give it character.
This is a nice enough second flush Darjeeling, but it isn’t what I was hoping for. I’ll enjoy the remainder of my order but will keep searching.
Flavors: Astringent, Cherry, Muscatel
I hope you find what you’re looking for eventually!
Thanks, Courtney! :) I am going to place another order with a different vendor so I’ll cross my fingers again! This apricot flavor is becoming the white whale to my Captain Ahab-esque search! :)
Haha! I have (not intensively) been looking for a Kenyan white that might one day replace Butiki’s White Rhino, so I understand the excitement and ‘frustration’ (for lack of a better word) that comes with the search.
Peach and apricot notes are my white whale, which I’ve chased through an ocean of oolong. :)
Have you tried the Darjeelings from What-Cha? They had a Rohini Golden Bud SF that I still remember several years after drinking it, though I’m not sure about the apricot notes. Thunderbolt Tea has excellent Darjeeling, though free shipping starts around US$100. Their prices are high, but they have 40% off for first-time buyers and periodic sales if you join their mailing list. I’m only suggesting them because you mentioned Darjeeling is your main tea type.
I found 2019 Goomtee Estate Darjeeling, 2nd flush here: https://www.siam-teas.com/product/goomtee-muscatel-delight-second-flush-2019/
Thomas is a bit lacking description of the flavours, though, but this one (from Ringtong estate) listing says muscatel notes, complemented by ripe summer fruits, look here: https://www.siam-teas.com/product/ringtong-second-flush-2023-ftgfop1/
Or you can try vendor Klasek tea at www.darjeeling.cz — they have really great stuff.
Thanks for the suggestion, Leafhopper! I have not ever ordered from What-Cha, but it sounds like it is definitely worth trying some of their Darjeelings. I appreciate your suggestion — thanks!
Thanks for the link, Martin! That looks like exactly what I am looking for — thanks so much for researching this and sending it my way! I have never tried Siam Teas, but I see an order in my future! :)
I had their Advent and there were many new to me teas that I liked. Definitely worth to submerge in the listings. They’re mostly focused to the Thai teas.