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From the foothills of the Himalayas comes the champagne of teas, bringing with it the flavors and mysterious charm of gardens cultivated at over two thousand meters above sea level. We are talking about Darjeeling Tea which, thanks to this unique creation process, is known worldwide for its refined, fruity taste, enriched by delicate vegetal aromas.
The complex and inimitable qualities of this Indian black tea have also been crowned by the European Union: Darjeeling tea is the only one to have obtained the IGP recognition (Protected Geographical Indication). Want to know more? Keep reading!
What makes this Indian black tea unique and precious? The mystery is revealed by the extraordinary place where the plantations contributing to its creation originate: the Darjeeling gardens, a city in West Bengal located on the first slopes of the Himalayas, which have been cultivating tea since the 19th century.
The first seeds arrived from China, brought by the famous Scottish botanist Robert Fortune. At that time, Darjeeling was a small village, perched at an altitude of over two thousand meters, among the imposing rocks of the Indian mountain giant. The cool and rarefied climate presented the ideal conditions to experiment with the cultivation of Fortune's seeds.
In 1841, Dr. Archibald Campbell, the first superintendent of the Darjeeling sanatorium and a passionate horticulturist, planted the first tea bushes cultivated with the seeds brought from China. The results were astonishing, and after only six years, the first Darjeeling tea garden was born.
In the following decades, the growth of the plantations was rapid and impetuous. The quality of Darjeeling black tea immediately stood out thanks to its sophisticated flavors and exclusive beneficial properties, producible only in the incredible natural setting of gardens suspended at altitudes between 150 and 2100 meters above sea level, aided by annual rainfall between 177 and 381 centimeters.
The aromatic magic of Darjeeling Tea arises from the cool and humid climate, the thin and constant mist, the rarefied air of high altitudes, and the particular exposure to sunlight.
The harvest phases in the plantations of Darjeeling black tea take place in spring, but are divided into two different moments that mark their aroma.
The first flush (first harvest) takes place at the beginning of spring and, thanks to a lower oxidation, guarantees a more herbaceous and complex tea. The refined taste magic of the first flush Darjeeling black tea has earned it the nickname of "champagne of teas": there is no other tea quality on the market that can boast such a complex and varied flavor, through vegetal notes, fruity taste, citrusy component, and musk. Despite having very little oxidation, Darjeeling black tea first flush is much more complex compared to green teas, from which it differs profoundly in taste and properties.
The second flush (second harvest) follows in the subsequent months of the summer and is distinguished by a tea with a sweeter taste, marked by flavors of ripe fruit: the action of the sun determines a greater oxidation and complete ripening of the harvest, which takes place in late spring.
Discover all Darjeeling Teas
Would you like to taste the Vital Energy of the Himalayas and the beneficial effects it can offer?
Darjeeling teas are all you need: this quality of Indian black tea offers the cold and ascending energy, typical of the natural landscape where the plantations are born.
Mountains grow and develop over time, accumulating energy constantly. In the same way, in tranquility, silence, and meditation, we can increase our Vital Energy.
Indian black tea offers the gateway to this inexhaustible flow of ascending energy, promoting inner serenity, bringing clarity and purity.
The properties of Darjeeling tea also extend to physical well-being, ensuring an antioxidant, purifying, and draining function. Recent studies have also highlighted the function of this tea as a blood pressure regulator, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. All these beneficial properties are present in both first flush and second flush teas.
For people with excess heat, ideal teas are first flush teas like Darjeeling black tea first flush Balasun 2022 Bio or Darjeeling 2022 Bio Seeyok tea: these teas release a cooler energy and are very useful for those with predominant doshas directed towards fire, earth, and water. Darjeeling black tea first flush regulates the balance of those oriented towards Pitta or Kapha doshas (with energy strongly directed towards yang), thus restoring a perfect balance with the Vata dosha. The right coexistence of the three doshas, according to Ayurveda, determines the psycho-physical well-being of the individual.
Darjeeling black tea is also highly recommended for very cold people, characterized by yin energy: in this case, ideal teas are second flush teas like Biodynamic Makaibari Darjeeling second flush which help restore harmony between opposite energies.
Those oriented towards yin energy should not give up the benefits and taste of first flush teas, the only precaution for very cold people is in the consumption time of the infusion: it is recommended not to drink first flush tea in the early hours of the morning when the body is still cold.
Enjoy the high quality of Darjeeling Tea at your home
If you want to savor Darjeeling tea in its original flavor, make sure to take care in the infusion. The low oxidation of Indian black tea leaves allows us to adjust the infusion parameters on the model of green teas: one gram of tea should be heated to 80 degrees, in 100 ml of water, for one or two minutes. Be careful not to exceed the indicated temperature, otherwise the tea becomes too bitter and completely loses its aromatic bouquet!
It is important to clarify immediately that green Darjeeling tea does not exist, but the color aspect of the first flush leaves can create confusion and doubts for the less experienced. Due to the particular processing method and very short oxidation process, in fact, the leaves of the first harvest are green in color.
Many people, upon seeing the green leaves (lightly oxidized), mistakenly consider them green teas! In reality, Darjeeling teas have a much more complex aromatic composition than green teas, which is why they are undoubtedly classified as black teas.
This spring, the Darjeeling gardens have also provided harvests of exquisite quality.
From one of the most renowned comes the black tea Darjeeling first flush Balasun 2022 Organic: this tea is made with leaves from the first harvest (April 2022) and is characterized by its floral, muscatel, and honey notes, in the full tradition of champagne of teas.
This precious first flush is produced in the famous Balasun tea estate, at an altitude ranging from 365 to 1375 meters above sea level and with temperatures between 7 degrees in winter and 30 degrees in summer. The perfect geographical position of the garden and the ideal climate have given life to a very balanced tea, already mature for infusion, with a unique and inimitable taste.
The first flush from this garden, characterized by a pleasant body with floral notes, is composed of a skillful blend of clonal plants (9%), Chinese plants (51%), and Assamica plants (40%).
The Balasun tea estate is located on the gentle hills near the town of Sonada, with a panoramic view of the Balasun River. Thanks to significant modernization activities, the estate, founded in 1871, has become a reference point for the quality of Darjeeling tea.
Buy the Black Tea Darjeeling First Flush Balasun 2022 Organic
For those who enjoy savoring cold tea, the desire for freshness can be satisfied with the Tea Darjeeling 2022 Organic Seeyok: this first flush (April 2022), which features extremely delicate notes of flowers and citrus, can also be prepared with cold infusion.
The Darjeeling Seeyok also has a low percentage of oxidation that enhances its antioxidant properties. The cultivation of Tea Darjeeling 2022 Organic Seeyok takes place in the Seeyok tea garden, in the picturesque Mirik Valley, on the border with Nepal. The cultivation extends over 406 hectares in the shadow of Mount Kanchejunga, at an altitude ranging from 1100 to 1800 meters. It has a variety of original bushes and some new plantations of the AV2 variety.
This blend (clonal plants 12%, Chinese plants 88%) creates an early first flush with a special bouquet of floral aromas and an intense and bright cup color. The garden has a long history: it was founded in 1869, but in 1995 the owners started organic cultivation, trying to respect tradition and the natural environment.
Buy the Tea Darjeeling 2022 Organic Seeyok
The Tea Darjeeling first flush 2022 Monteviot Organic offers a novelty with sweet and velvety flavors: this first batch of tea harvested in the spring of 2022 is appreciated for the particularly delicate taste of the infusion.
The first flush black tea leaves from this garden have been carefully selected at the beginning of spring, after the nourishment and care received during the winter. The attention placed on cultivation is the secret to creating this black tea with an elegant and refined taste.
The organic agricultural process of the first harvest is certified by the code DJ01/21: this Darjeeling first flush tea was also harvested in April 2022.
Purchase the Darjeeling First Flush 2022 Monteviot Bio
For those looking for fascinating alternatives, the Himalayan side overlooking Nepal offers a tasty surprise: from Nepalese gardens comes the Himalayan Beauty First Flush Bio tea, a green tea that has nothing to envy to its neighbor Darjeeling tea.
Cultivated in the Simpani garden, in the Ilam area located in western Nepal, this innovative Nepalese green tea is endowed with a rich bouquet of aromas: the skillful crossbreeding of cultivars (Phobshering, Goomtee, Tukda, and Bannockburn) has given rise to a tea quality with a complex and full-bodied taste, rich in buds.
The cultivation of Simpani Tea Farm develops on the border between Nepal and Darjeeling, at an altitude of 1800 meters. The temperature range, generated by the height, offers this green tea, harvested in April 2022, the same typical benefits of Indian black tea cultivations.
Purchase the Himalayan Beauty First Flush Bio Tea
Are you curious to try the unique and mysterious taste of Darjeeling tea? Do you prefer the first flush or the second flush? Tell us about your experience after trying it!
