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Firefly from The Simple Leaf

Steepster Score 4 Ratings Rate This Tea

76/100

Firefly

Black Tea by The Simple Leaf

The first thing we noticed with this tea was the abundance of colors in the tightly rolled leaves (in India, leaves rolled in this way are called BPS – Broken Pekoe Souchong). Firefly is from the Tumsong estate, situated at an altitude of about 4,500 feet in Darjeeling. When brewed, the liquor is a bright amber, and the aroma characteristically Darjeeling muscatel (reminiscent of the Muscat grape). Slightly nutty and fruity, it is also exceptionally smooth. The complex flavors come alive when enjoyed without any additives. Enjoy hot or iced.

5 Tasting Notes

TeaEqualsBliss
84

Thanks for this MandyB!

This was Darjeeling-reminiscent! But I cannot tell you in which way! I just kind of reminded me of Darjeeling. It tasted like a green tea or a black and green blend tho. This was quite masculine to the nose…wait…that sounded funny…it didn’t smell like a MAN!!!! LOL But I think you know what I mean by that…

In the middle of the sip there was a slight fruitiness that came and went quickly and the beginning and end of the sip was more nutty. This was different and pretty good!

AJ
84
AJ 3 tasting notes

I actually had this yesterday, but when I was steeping it, I completely forgot about and left it for a good twenty minutes. It was bitter, but the bitterness didn’t quite set it until it had cooled a bit.

Having it again today. Properly steeped this time.

I’d like to start by pointing out that I just recently came down with a cold, so my tastebuds may be off. I should be drinking smokey teas instead. That’d clear me right up.

It’s got the usual lighter flavour of the darjeeling. I’m finding it hard to discern much flavour, but I remember it being good and flavourful yesterday, and the bitterness again mixed in pleasantly to give it a walnut taste. However, no bitterness today it seems. But that might just be my tastebuds out of whack. My nose isn’t plugged up at least.

I’m not getting any fruity or wine notes. I am getting something akin to nuttyness but not quite (makes me think of Keemun). It’s enjoyable though. This’ only the second darjeeling I’ve ever tried, after Margaret’s Hope that Jillian sent me.

It got a bit bitter as it cooled down, but not in an unpleasant way. Just like how Margaret’s Hope did. Walnutty.

I think I can taste the age creeping into this one. I really shouldn’t put off finishing off my Simple Leaf teas. I love them to bits, but it’s best to enjoy them while they’re still good.

I always need the right mood for tea types. I need to be in the mood for a Darjeeling, or I don’t like it. I definitely can’t have them in the mornings. I enjoy them best in the afternoon, I think, after I’ve already had a cup or two of something else.

Still nutty—walnut—although less sharp than I remember it being. It’s still got a wine-like quality, but I’m obviously not the best person to be describing anything to do with wine, being a teetotaller.

As always, going more bitter as it cools, but not a dislikable astringency. Reminds me of the taste of the ‘skins’ on cracked walnuts. Clings a bit to the mouth afterwards.

Revisiting this one and how much it smells like a bouquet of flowers. I read somewhere that most Darjeeling “blacks” are actually a mixture of green, oolong and black, hence the multi-colour appearance they commonly possess, but are just labeled as “black”. Odd. But explains a lot.

Light and floral and also strongly walnutty, just as I remember.

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Bethany
61

Another one from the “drink it up” pile. I didn’t go to bed til almost 2am and was up at 7, so I wanted something strong. I wish I had looked at the description of this before I picked it up. It’s a light Darjeeling, erring more on the floral and fruity side. Not what I’m in the mood for. This cup is more bitter than I expected it would be, and I’m not a Darjeeling fan anyway.