Glenburn Darjeeling Moonlight

My first proper darjeeling?? I’ve only tried one prior, and was not a fan (I think age was a contributor), but this one seems like it has promise! Thanks so much to Boxermama for passing on a sample!

First off, this brews up waaaayyyy lighter than I expected. I’m convinced it’s a green tea, not a black :P Second: what is that sweet smell?! Is that the muscatel that people always talk about with respect to darjeelings? It smells lovely! And delicious! Must drink now.

Oh man. I never would have guessed that this is a black…. nor how absolutely delicious it is! This is great! Mild, sweet, much like a lighter tea than a black, and I’m definitely getting delicious muscatel. This is so good. I’m gulping it down like crazy because it’s delicious. It tastes kind of like the grape-flavoured tea I’ve always wanted, where the grape flavour is realistic instead of artificial. Yeah… this is something I’d buy again. And now, I’m super curious about trying other darjeelings! I’ve given a few straight blacks a chance over the last few days, and this is definitely one of the best and most different. I have a bunch of other teas upstairs with me, and don’t want to drink anything else now because the delicious flavour is lingering so wonderfully.

Nuts. I definitely didn’t need to acquire a taste for yet another type of tea!

Anyhow, thanks so much for letting me try this, Boxermama! I am slowly but steadily trying to get through all the wonderful samples you sent me :D

ETA: Second infusion was alright, but I shouldn’t have let the leaves sit so long. When I finish off my sample of this, I’ll have to make sure I have time to do multiple infusions within a few hours.

Oh stacy… this is lovely!

I’m finally getting a chance to try this one and i’m not sure why i waited to long. I know that there is a sample (i think) of the other darjeeling on it’s way but this is pretty tasty. I don’t even know how to describe this one. It’s a black that doesn’t taste like a black but still has character and delicious notes happening here. mmmmm yeah this is nice! (sorry for the inadequate note, just not sure how to describe this)

I got this Darjeeling because I’ve had very little experience with Darjeelings in general. I had one bagged version that was horrible. I had another loose leaf version that was delicious! So, here’s hoping this one is like the latter. On to tea #3!

This is classified as a black tea, but it’s really more like a white tea in my opinion. I used an extra half teaspoon than is recommended. The liquor is a very light yellow color. Honestly, I’d say it’s near colorless. It has that slightly floral, slightly dried grass, white tea flavor.

Why is this considered a Darjeeling black tea? I suppose maybe it’s because of the muscatel. I think I can detect that in this cup. But that’s also a new quality that I’m still trying to grasp, so you may want to refer to a more seasoned Darjeeling taster.

My verdict? Definitely enjoyable, but not at all what I expected. If you’re looking for a strong black tea, this isn’t the one for you. But if you’re looking for a Darjeeling white tea, this could be it! Very yummy!

This is a new favorite for me in the Darjeeling group. The dry leaf is surprising with its greenish overall appearance and chunky silver tips. I’m not certain if its a 1st or 2nd flush. Its flavor is delicate and complex with a nice honey sweetness and hints of citrus blossoms. There is no astringency or bitterness. The brew is pale gold with a sweet floral aroma. Excellent!

Here is the other sample I received from Stacy @ Butiki.

The aroma of this one is a little sweeter than the other, kind of peachy & a little bit of fresh hay & chamomile to it. The flavor makes me think of clover & peach, & has a really ‘fresh’ taste to it, especially in the after taste. My mouth’s a little tingly, a little minty. Like I just brushed my teeth. I feel like I’m drinking white tea, actually, as it is very light, subtle, & gentle. It’s nice!

Thanks again, Stacy!

This tea was pretty mellow compared to other Darjeelings I’ve had (which admittedly, isn’t many). Maybe I have unsophisticated tastes, but I like a Darjeeling that wakes me up a bit and is a little more refreshing. This tea is good, but it’s a little too soft to be ideal, but it’s still very enjoyable!

When I opened the package I assumed this was a white tea because the leaves didn’t look like those of any Darjeeling I’d ever tried. Ditto with the brew – very pale, yellowish-tan. Big, long leaves that looked green when they unfurled, too. But it tastes like a black tea! I wouldn’t call it weak, just subtle. Little bit of muscat, slightly floral. A good one to drink at night. Take a regular Darjeeling, and just turn down the dials a liiiiiittle bit instead of diluting or under-steeping it, and you get this tea. I usually drink black tea with milk, but I wouldn’t put it in this one because the flavour on its own is delicate and pleasant just with a bit of sugar. Pleasant surprise. Something different, and not what I would have thought I’d like, but I was proved wrong! Thanks, Stacy :)

I’ll keep this short and sweet. This tea is delicate, light and refreshing. The overall taste is that of buttered honeycomb mixed with a sweet white wine. Always smooth, never astringent, even upon a second steep. It pairs well with fresh berries on a lazy Sunday morning.