darjeeling green tea

type: green

origin: india

region: darjeeling

variety: darjeeling

caffeine: medium

price level: $$$$

Stash Darjeeling Green Tea is in a class by itself. It brews up an amber color cup and possesses the flowery bouquet, hint of Muscat, and mellow character which Darjeeling is known for, with a distinctive green tea flavor. Darjeeling is a small resort town situated in northwest Bengal, 400 miles due north of Calcutta in the small neck of Indian Territory that separates Nepal and Bhutan. Its location at 6500 feet provides a temperate, if rainy climate, and breathtaking views that allow the eye to travel from the scorching plains below, upward over a succession of mountains that culminate with the mighty Kanchenjunga, almost as high as Everest. The taste of Darjeeling varies with the seasons. The first flush or springtime tea, is harvested from late February to mid-April. The young leaves yield a light tea with a flavor of green Muscat. The second flush or summer tea, is harvested in late May and early June before the monsoon rains. These teas are darker and milder in taste than the first flush, but still possess the characteristic Muscat flavor. The autumnal flush is harvested in mid October and early November. This tea is mild in flavor and aroma. After the autumnal flush is harvested, the tea bushes are virtually dormant until February. Stash Darjeeling Green Tea is from the prestigious Singtom Estate.