It is a sleepy kinda day today, chilly and rainy, a real ‘spring day’ to me. I think it might be because I spent half of my life in the northeast, but to me, spring means lots of rain showers and being able to go out in the world wearing fluffy sweaters and only one pair of pants, I might even dare going out in a skirt or not wearing a hat! It is honestly some of my favorite weather, perfect for hot tea, enjoying nature, and snuggling under a blanket. A good day for mushroom hunting or doing artsy things, whichever my mood prefers.
Today’s tea came to me from India, by way of England, because getting boxes from other countries makes me immensely happy. Darjeeling 2nd Flush 2014 Rohini Clonal Special Tippy Black Tea from What-Cha comes from the Rohini Tea Estate in Kurseong Valley, which is quite beautiful if you go look at pictures, very lush and green. This tea is not quite lush and green, but slightly fuzzy and rich brown, as a 2nd flush should be. Hehe, in my notebook I list the aroma first as ‘whoa!’ and then actually describe it! The tea starts with a touch of tobacco and malt, and then moves on to raisins and rich, sweet, molasses. I do enjoy the level of richness that these leaves have, and the tobacco note is unusual but quite pleasant.
Into the steeping apparatus the leaves have gone, for a happy steeping time. After they steep the now steaming and soggy leaves have a much sweeter aroma, with notes of molasses, malt, fruit (specifically raisins and dried flowers) and a finish of honey and distant flowers. The liquid is creamy sweet with notes of muscadines, honey, and autumn leaves. Oddly the aroma of the liquid reminds me of sunshine and warmth, it imparts a laziness to my brain.
This tea is delightfully rich and smooth, but I am such a sucker for Darjeeling, I have developed a bit of an addiction to them, and I am constantly waffling between which flush is my favorite. The thing I love most about it is how it reminds me of summer, the best parts of summer, with 2nd flush bringing memories of lazy late summer where everything takes on a golden tone. The taste starts off with a blend of muscadines and scuppernongs with a tiny bit of raisin, this moves on to toasted nuts, autumn leaves, and a really pleasant and surprising orange blossom finish. It is very warm and soothing, much like sitting in a patch of sunlight.
For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/03/what-cha-darjeeling-2nd-flush-2014.html
