I want to preface this tasting note and my rating by making it clear that this was my very first first flush Darjeeling to try. This is not a reflection on Upton Tea nor on this specific tea, but rather my novice impression of this tea.
I now know what astringency tastes like in a tea. This is my first first flush Darjeeling; I love a couple of the second flush Darjeelings, but neither of them are identified as having an astringent finish. I was curious about what astringency would taste like in a tea and I liked what I read of the tasting notes for this tea, so I decided the time was right to dip my toes in the first flush Darjeeling market.
Bottom line: teas with astringency as a note or quality are not for me. I’m sure there are folks out there who like this quality in a tea, but I’m not one of their number. For me, the astringency on the finish scuttles whatever comes before it.
This tasting note is no reflection on the quality of the tea nor of the tea provider, simply my take on my first encounter with a tea with astringent notes.
