This was a cup I had on a tea shop, on my effort to try to get darjeelings. I did not prepare it.
There is a definite rose flavour to this – many times weaker than regular run of the mill china rose congou, but there has to be some extra flavouring here. I had misunderstood and though it was unflavoured, that the rose was metaphorical, so not quite what I was expecting. I did not much like it, but then again me and darjeelings are not too friendly.
I suspect preparation was not quite perfect, infusion time was up to me, and I think I overbrew it slightly. But a tea to not buy, and will keep trying good quality (UNFLAVOURED!) darjeelings whenever I get the chance.
what did you dislike a little in this one finally, rose or darjeeling base ?
I did not dislike this per se. Or better said, I disliked that it did not match my expectations (for unscented tea), though that was a problem with my expectations.
Disregarding that disappointment, I just did not love it. And I would never pay that price for this – though will keep trying to try good darjeelings!
this is a brand new one by MF and the price is high yes 15 €/100 gr
I had seen the name of the blend before in the same shop, maybe 2 years ago. But yes their tin was new and almost totally filled. Maybe a rebranding? And yes price was like that! It was good they served it by the cup so I can try – though sadly it can backfire, I ordered by chance , not knowing the price, a pot of silver needle and fell in love – it was 30+ € per 100 gr ouch. Maybe one of these days 50 gr or at least more teapots of it
it’s a seasonal tea, each year you have the one. Like with the Sakura series – I bought the 2000 but you have one new for 2012,2013 and each time in a new tin…23 € at least !
Ah, that is it then, this is likely the autumn 2012 picking then!
I’ll send you some of the Palais des Thés Darjeeling I got recently, in an attempt to “get” Darjeelings a bit more myself. It’s hard getting to grips with a kind of tea you don’t get though, isn’t it? Unless you’re hand-guided to a great example of one by someone with very similar tastes, it’s more than a bit hit and miss. (Though rose-flavoured tea masquerading as pure tea with its inner soul showing in the taste of rose is annoying!)
“Rose d’ Himalaya” used to an excellent Arya Autumn 3rd flush Darjeeling with a NATURAL aftertaste of rose! A very subtle and refined tea! This particular Arya garden that produced this rarity burned down in 1998. The shop still reproduces and sells a tea under the same name, adding rose oil to a regular Dargeeling. Really NOT the same.Your impression was absolutely right!
Ah, that old one with the natural taste, would love to have tried it. So sad about the fire.
And thank you very much for the information, very interesting!