This is a stunning tea from Bihar State, a relatively new tea growing region of India. Bihar State lies south of Nepal and to the west of North Bengal, where the famous Darjeeling teas are grown. In fact, the tea family responsible for this tea has many decades of experience working on several Darjeeling tea gardens.
They know what it takes to make good tea because they understand how to evaluate soil conditions, climate and weather, and know what tea bush cultivars will work best under the available conditions to yield the best tasting tea for that particular region. They also know how to utilize to the best advantage the fresh leaf materials in the tea factory. Producing good tea is so much more than simply sticking some plants in the ground, watching them grow, and then drying the leaf.
This tea comes from tea gardens that are planted alongside the Doke River. The growers have utilized a state-of-the-art irrigation system to make wise use of water from the river.
Doke Black Fusion is a hearty but very smooth cup. The leaf is greyish-black, large and slightly twisted and it shows a little tip on the ends. This is an aromatic tea but it does not have a floral or fruity nature. Instead, the fragrance is reminiscent of molasses and malt, and in the cup the taste – the buttery taste – reminds us here at Tea Trekker of a rich serving of creme brulee. For those who like our big-mouthfeel Nepal Everest, and Yunnan black teas, this tea will also be a welcome addition to the lineup of morning or afternoon favorites.
This tea has a unique taste and style, which makes it difficult to categorize. But this is also what makes it so intriguing. Right out of the gate it is a delightful, quality tea offering from a new tea garden that is achieving results that are miles ahead of many other teas that we sample ( and reject ) from other new tea gardens.