Glenburn Estate Darjeeling

Full Review on SororiTea Sisters on the 21st but here are the snippits:

Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Butiki Teas is a prime example of a quality first flush Darjeeling. If you are like me and generally prefer second flush you should still give this one a try, because it is worth it to have one of the best first flush Darjeeling’s as a tea lover and connoisseur.

The flavor notes are so laid back, mellow, but absolutely present. I love the light juicy sweet peach notes, the light lilting floral flavor, and that ever so subtle touch of ginger, which I pick up more in the aroma than the flavor but again, the flavor is there. I even get a honey aroma and note on the palate.

This has made it to my shopping list.

Sipdown! Thanks to Stacy for a sample of this one, so I can expand my very limited darjeeling knowledge.

This tea smells lovely and sweet. A bit grapey, as I’ve gathered is characteristic. The sweetness also reminds me of that caused by leafhoppers, e.g. in Gui Fei Oolong, etc. Flavourwise, I’d be hard-pressed to identify this as a black tea. It’s much more like… a non-oxidized Gui Fei, or something like that? It’s sweet, just the teensiest touch astringent, and kind of has a hay-y sort of flavour. Quite pleasant, but I’m not sure that it quite falls into the realm of tea I would want to drink often. It’s not bad, and certainly interesting to have tried, but there’s something about that leafhopper flavour that, instead of growing on me, is doing the opposite: I’m starting to find it unpleasant. Which is unfortunate as I have no shortage of such teas. Oh well! I definitely preferred the Glenburn Darjeeling Moonlight; I’ll have to dig out the last of my sample from Boxermama and finish it off to remind me how it tasted.

Will have to do a full review later on this wonderful 1st flush Darjeeling. I just finished my sample that Stacy sent. It is a chilly, rainy day in Atlanta and I am enjoying a delicious bowl of homemade soup which includes carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, garlic, kale, fresh parmesan and chicken. My husband found the recipe on the internet. I love homemade soup and tea on a rainy autumn day! I just wish I could spend the rest of the day checking out my new teas from Butiki instead of going to work. But if I don’t work, I won’t have any money for tea!

Smells fruity and floral when dry. After steeping, the leaves are predominantly green. Vegetal taste, very light and astringent. I’m happy to have tried this, but it confirms further to me that first flushes just aren’t my thing.

Not rating since I can’t compare this to other first flushes and have no way to say if this is a good one or not.

UPDATE: Continuing my way through this cup, I think I’ve narrowed down why first flushes aren’t for me. They are very reminiscent of green tea and green tea truly isn’t my thing.

My first first flush Darjeeling! Thank you to Stacy for the sample.

This seems so much like a green tea to me. I thought it was!

I won’t give this one a score, because I really have nothing to compare it to. It is not really my kind of tea with its floral, slightly bitter flavor. But, I’m glad I tried it!

This is a sample sent to me from Stacy @ Butiki.
I’m not a huge Darjeeling fan, at least I haven’t been in the past, others I have tried had an acidic taste, as I recall, but I’m trying to be open minded, so when I placed my most recent Butiki order, I asked to sample some Darjeeling tea. This was one of 2 teas Stacy sent to me with my order. It is actually quite nice! A gentle, mouthwatering cup with essence of peach & some floral qualities.
Thanks Stacy, you’re awesome!

This tea is awesome. I’ve been searching for my perfect cup of Darjeeling, and this is the closest I’ve found yet.

The only things I could wish for are more aggressive tannins and a stronger floral finish. (I want a Darjeeling that can stand up to a curry dish!) Maybe I’ll try brewing this one for a bit longer next time to see how it does.