Darjeeling Jungpana Estate SFTGFOP1 2009 1st Flush

_{Backlogging and based on my memory and a few notes}

Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts

I bought four ounces of this back in the spring of 2011, and I have been brewing it off-and-on since then with temperatures a little lower than the ones I normally use for any other black tea.

I have had at least four Darjeelings to date. Here are my notes (almost verbatim): “Good flavor, not too brisk; good color. (My wife) and I really liked it. Muscatel → distinctive – floral? Beautiful clear amber color. Not bitter or astringent. Uplifting finish.” I started my first steep at 190F, otherwise I used my standard black tea parameters while steeping; my notes show that I got two good steepings and a third that was noted as, “mild, but still tasty”; I must have stopped at three.

I have noticed that Darjeelings do not seem to do very well with multiple steepings, beyond say two or three, and as cost conscience as I am, I prefer to get lots of steepings out of a tea that goes for $5 or more (I have been able to get five good steepings out of a number of quality Chinese red teas). I am intrigued by the various subtleties in the first and second flush Darjeelings, but still don’t feel I have to have a FF Darjeeling in my cupboard.

This is my first FF Darjeeling, so I’m leaving off the rating.

(I still have some of this, so I may update this review at a later time).

This tea is a very good black tea. It has the typical muscatel aroma and flavor. The key to enjoying this tea is to not over brew it or it becomes very astringent and somewhat bitter. I brew the tea using 2 heaping teaspoons per 16 oz of water and increase the steeping by 2-3 minutes each time at around 190F.

Jungpana (Darjeeling 2nd flush) From the Mahandi Valley comes this award-winning Darjeeling tea. Its small, silver-tipped leaves produce a deep caramel brown liquor with spicy aroma, smooth body, muscatel notes and a bright finish. This tea won the competition for the best 2nd flush Darjeeling at the 2008 World Tea Championship.
Dry Aroma: spice, caramel, rich heady citrus depth
Wet Aroma: dark honey, floral, hint of fruit Leaf: larger leaf than standard Darjeeling, with color that resembles golden beauty (dark, rust, silver tip), lots of pollen
Cup: rich golden, champagne color with green cast legs. Clean, sweet, floral depth with almost pollen-like astringency and totally lacking in bitterness or spicy bite. Silky mouth feel, with lingering sweetness. Offers 2-4 extractions with consistent depth of flavor.
brewing method: Standard cupping set – used 2 grams (1 rounded tsp) per 6oz in 190 degree water, steeped for 3 minutes, but allowing for following extractions by raising the temperature of the water and extending the steep times.

This is part of my first foray into loose Darjeelings. I’m not sure how to describe the tea, and I think before I give it a numerical rating I will have to drink it several times. There is a certain flavor, not unlike sorrel, that I really like. I will say that is has a naturally sweet aspect to it. I very much enjoyed it, and will continue to enjoy it this week. I have yet to give it a full “stress test”, and when I do I will write a fuller report.