Excelsior

2012 First Flush Namring SFTGFOP1 from Mariage Frères

Excelsior drank 2012 First Flush Namring SFTGFOP1 by Mariage Frères

400ml of water at 195F
1 heaping tablespoon of tea
Steep for 4 minutes
1/4 teaspoon of highly refined sugar

As I usually do for all Darjeeling, I heat the teapot with hot water, then discard the water, add the tea and let it stand for 30 seconds allowing the aroma of the tea to develop. The green scent of the tea is on the moderate side.

This 2012 First Flush Namring was quite a surprise and completely different from the 2011 First Flush Namring. While the 2011 had a very pronounced green/freshness in taste, the 2012 has a better balance of flavor, taste, aroma, and contained all of the classic qualities of a FF Darjeeling. The astringency is very slight adding body and character to the tea. The flavor is bold and brisk yet not over powering. All of these characteristics makes the 2012 FF Namring an exceptional Darjeeling.

The flavor fully opens up after 3 minutes of steeping. Very smooth from the first sip, and there is little to no aftertaste.

2012-06-21 03:09:30 -0400

195 °F / 90 °C

3 min 0 sec

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I’ve always had an interest in tea and it became a passion when I moved to work and live in Japan. There was a Mariage Tea Salon just three subway stations away from where I lived.

I tried the Darjeeling Princeton blend. It was fabulous. In the course of twenty three years, I tried all sorts of teas from Lupicia, Marine de Bourbon, Fortnum and Mason, Shiseido Tea Salon, Brooke Bond Tea Salon and countless others. Now, I primarily order Premium Spring/First Flush Darjeelings direct from Mariage Frères, France. Others teas I drink are Oolong Teas from Taiwan, Green and Red Rooibos from South Africa, and the Japanese Green Teas my wife always brings back from Japan.