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Darjeeling Gopaldhara Second Flush 2021

Darjeeling Gopaldhara Second Flush is a classic Second Flush 2021 Darjeeling from Gopaldhara Tea Estate. The tippy leaves produce a golden liquor with a lovely muscatel character. The smooth flavours are fruity, with honey notes and a satisfying mineral and citrus aftertaste.

Brewing guide: 2.5g in 250ml water at 90°C for 3-4 minutes

£1.42£4.87

(10-50g)

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Origin:Gopaldhara Tea Estate, Darjeeling, India
Elevation:1,000 - 1,200m
Cultivar:China Bushes
Harvest time:May 2021
Sourcing:Direct from Gopaldhara

Description

Darjeeling Gopaldhara Second Flush is a brisk Darjeeling from Gopaldhara Tea Estate. Made from leaves harvested from China bushes in early summer, it has a typical Second Flush Darjeeling character. Somewhat more robust than the best First Flushes from Gopaldhara, it has a muscatel profile with smooth flavours and a comforting aftertaste. This batch is FTGFOP1 ‘China Muscatel’ grade from the second flush crop picked in May 2021.

Like all our Gopaldhara teas, we source this tea directly from Rishi Saria, the owner and director of Gopaldhara and Rohini Tea Estates. Gopaldhara Tea Estate is nestled in the Mirik Valley, in the Himalayan foothills, and is one of the highest tea estates in Darjeeling with elevations of up to 2,100m. It is renowned for producing teas of exceptional quality and very often quite unusual character.

Second Flush Darjeeling teas are generally not as sought after or as well regarded as their earlier spring First Flush counterparts. The flavours are quite different and many have a preference for the finer, more pronounced mineral and muscatel characters of the best First Flush teas. However Second Flush Darjeeling teas have many fans, who are drawn to them by the more complex and robust profiles. A good Second Flush Darjeeling certainly should exhibit a character that is more rounded, having a stronger overall flavour. But these stronger flavours should be well balanced – just like in this particularly traditional Second Flush example from Gopaldhara. This balanced profile is particularly attractive to those who find First Flush teas to be a little on the lighter and more mineral side!

Darjeeling Gopaldhara Second Flush black tea has a darker leaf, indicating a higher degree of oxidation. The liquor produced has a dark amber colour with a slight mineral aroma. The refined taste is smooth and satisfying. It has a great muscatel quality that is balanced by some woody, fruity and mineral notes. The sweet muscatel flavours are nicely complimented by an aftertaste that has honey and fruity citrus flavours and just a touch of pleasant stringency.

We suggest brewing parameters of 90°C for 3-4 minutes according to your taste, brewing multiple times.

This Darjeeling Gopaldhara Second Flush black tea was first featured in our December 2018 Curious Tea Subscription Boxes.