Darjeeling (Harney & Sons)

Friday is Black Tea, Floral Tea, Fruit Tea, Chai and Pu’erh Review Day!

It wasn’t long ago I didn’t know there was a difference in “Darjeeling” teas. Man, oh man… have I been missing out! This Orthodox Darjeeling is a little more subtle than most I’ve had.

There’s an inherent quality behind one of the most classic teas around. Certainly Green and Oolong teas have been around longer than most black teas, but when you think about a “classic” tea you usually conjur up an image of Victorian era tea consumption. Welcome to Darjeelings!

The aroma after steeping is vaguely reminiscent of a light peach cobbler cooked over a wood fire while camping. There’s something awefully soothing about that and I can’t help but relax while I take in this tea.

This Darjeeling has a bit of a bite, which I expect of most any black tea. It is however, more subtle than most Darjeelings I’ve had in the past and doesn’t require the addition of sugar to make it enjoyable. As you let this tea coat your palette it’s easy to beging reminiscing of my earliest experiences with tea.

Harney indicates this Darjeeling is a blend of First Flush and Autumnal Darjeelings which likely accounts for its more subtle flavors and its fairly light boldness when compared to other black teas. This Darjeeling is a common one for me to drink for breakfast as I sit down and begin my work day. If you’re on the fence with the strength of un-flavored black teas, I would deffinitely give this Darjeeling a try. It may just get you hooked!