Margaret's Hope FTGFOP 1 CH SPL Darjeeling

I was in the mood for something I haven’t had in awhile this morning. I thought this one would be a good candidate, as I now have some rock sugar in my possession. I very much enjoy this one “with a little sugar, like the Germans!”

Mmmm. Delightfully fruity. I can’t believe what a dramatic difference that sugar makes. It smooths out that “a little too astringent” quality and adds to the fruitiness. Ahhh, that signature muscatel flavor is just the little twist I needed to give my tastebuds something new to think about :) The color of this tea is also so beautiful. I wish I was drinking it in a pretty white china cup!

(an aside: does anyone else not like drinking hot items like coffee and tea in glass? I don’t like it at all! I think I inherited this dislike from my grandmother! I like ceramic and china. This would look so pretty in a glass cup but I can’t stand drinking from glass! Oh I’m so peculiar!)

I would love to start a little tradition where I get some of this exquisite first flush each late Spring after it is released :)

Also, I found this Wikipedia article very informative about Darjeelings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_tea

This was a little bitter today :( I think maybe because I did not take it “with a little sugar, like the Germans.” ;) I have no plans to bring sugar to work any more, so I think I’m going to try it at 195 next time.

Even though I was a little disappointed, it was still quite good – grapey, winey, complex.

Margaret’s Hope. Isn’t that a nice name? Shades of a young wife standing on her widow’s walk with sea spray blowing in her face waiting for her true love to sail back home…

…which has little do to with this really fine, fruity and grapey Darjeeling. I have maybe just enough (courtesy of the lovely jacquelinem) to try a small pot’s worth chilled, which I’m thinking would be elegantly refreshing.

Overdid on leaf, time, and temp (all three, I’m afraid) and even so, it’s a good and juicy Darjeeling. Just had a touch of bitterness at the end. With a little more attentiveness, this will be grapey and excellent.