Darjeeling Makaibari

so apparently this was a 2nd grade tea, where teaopia normally sells 3rd or ungraded…
I could most definitely tell that it was higher quality, maybe even some tips in there. Overall, the tea was good, great even, but not what I wanted. That fresh, first flush aroma/flavour was popping out at me and I was hoping for more of a malty tea (as always). Also, there wasn’t much complexity here. I get the nutty part, but it simply wasn’t enough.
Oh well, this is the second last pure black tea of theirs I have to try! apparently the other one is a first flush so that should be interesting.
Oh and I added milk (I know, bad bad tea drinker I am!)

Oh man did I ever over-brew this the first time. This is my second Darjeeling experience—the first was a blend of Darjeeling and raspberries and I never took the leaves out! That must have been an incredibly light version, because within 4 minutes this tea was so bitter as to be undrinkable! I literally did the second steep in seconds, for fear of wasting more. The dry leaves themselves have a very fresh, grassy smell, but it’s like the tea itself is completely different. The smell I’m not even sure about… I want to say buttery? The liquor is deliciously smooth and silky. I’m not sure what to call the flavour, but it’s full, interesting, and probably nutty. Darjeeling, they weren’t lying about you!

Best with sugar. It’s a very light tasting tea, but I definitely find it needs something to amplify the taste. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a very mellow black tea.