Just received this yesterday. I do wish Golden Moon would call the teas by their proper name (e.g. not just First Flush Darjeeling) and would include the grade of tea as well. This was from their monthly tea club.
It is my second 2011 Darjeeling to taste (first was Upton’s TD57: Margaret’s Hope Estate FTGFOP1 Tippy/Cl First Flush DJ-23). I actually liked this better than Margaret’s Hope although I need to go back and try that one again.
I liked this quite a bit. It reminded me of a nice First Flush Darjeeling I drank for breakfast during my trip to India earlier this year as far as flavor, although this one is a bigger tea. I followed more closely to Upton’s brewing recommendations for the Margaret’s Hope tea, rather than Golden Moon’s recommendation for this one. I used 3 gently rounded tsp to 500ml water in my Breville. The fresh leaves smell sweet like freshly mowed grass (in a good sense). I usually forget to smell the leaves after brewing, but I will say these were a bit stinky so I couldn’t help but smell it.
This is a more full flavored Darjeeling, which is fine with me. I drank it without any additives although I’m thinking it might do just fine with a splash of milk and a touch of honey. I can perhaps see just the beginning of a pineapple hint – it is not real obvious. I liked this one quite a bit and look forward to trying it again. I was drinking this one right after doing yoga, so didn’t do the best with tasting notes.
Golden Moon recommends 2 minutes brewing time on this, saying it will get quite astringent with longer brewing. I brewed for 3 minutes and did not find it all that astringent.
