Good morning Steepsterites.
This morning we’ve got another not-random choice. I had the first flush from this estate yesterday evening and thought I ought to do this one while I had that one in fresh memory. Then we’ll see if I can tell a difference.
At least these leaves don’t smell of curry. The aroma after steeping isn’t that much different from the first flush. Perhaps a little darker in the grass note, but that’s all. It smells a little more like what I tend to connect with Darjeelings, which I guess makes sense, doesn’t it. If the first flush is all swallowed up by prestige.
Taste is a bit more what I normally associate with Darjeelings, but it still seems very familiar to the first flush. I seriously doubt I could tell them apart if you gave me a blind test or something. Again, a little harsher on the grass-y note. It’s difficult to explain, it just tastes rougher and darker.
It doesn’t have as much of that astringent bitterness on the swallow that the first flush had, but I think that can be explained away by water temperature. I’m pretty certain the water was a little cooler today than it was yesterday. It’s coming out more as the cup cools a bit, though. I don’t think it’s something you can get rid of completely, I think it’s supposed to be there. But you can control the amount to a degree.
The grape-that-I-don’t-recognise-as-grapes doesn’t seem to have put in an appearance, though.
When it comes to the first and second flush, I don’t really think I’ve got a preference here.
