1st Flush Darjeeling

Our 2019 1st Flush Darjeeling black tea is from Gopaldhara Estate in India. This 1st Flush, FTGFOP (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe), comes from the Darjeeling region, a narrow state in the north and east of the country, almost entirely surrounded by Nepal, China, and Bhutan. This tea is a classic handmade first flush Darjeeling, harvested and produced in mid-March before heavier rains arrive later in the year. It boasts a wonderful floral and grassy aroma and flavor, with a slight astringency and complex layers. Like other Darjeeling teas, our 1st Flush is made using a process that doesn't fully or evenly oxidize the leaves. It's technically closer to an oolong, given the moderate oxidation, but the technique used in Darjeeling creates a very colorful tea compared to the uniform coloration typical of most other teas. Gopaldhara Estate has been producing top-quality Darjeeling Tea since 1955. Located right on the border with Nepal, our First Flush Darjeeling comes from clonal tea plants growing between 5,500 and 7,000 feet in elevation. We consider this a connoisseur tea, as it is produced in small quantities, by hand, from a single season and estate.