Hillton First Flush Darjeeling, estate specific 2009

This is one of the tastiest teas I’ve ever had. as I wrote at Teawritings.com, “everyone in America knows the basic flavor of darjeeling, because it’s the basic taste of Lipton. However a fine darjeeling is to Lipton what a fine cheese is to Kraft Singles. And the first-flush Hillton? Was the tea equivalent of stopping at a small goat farm’s road stand and eating their first chevre of the year.” And “the really amazing flavor comes on the second steeping. A distinct flavor of lychee emerges, sweet and delicate, and yet the leaves have never been near a lychee fruit.”

Pretty sure this is the same tea, except that mine has the number 09-DJ1.

I should have read the label before I steeped. I didn’t realize this was a first flush, so I steeped it the way I’d steep a second flush (a bit hotter). But then I just read an article that said 205 is the right temp for first flush darjeelings that are more than 3 months old. So everyone’s got an opinion.

The tea is consistent with my observations about the difference between first and second flush darjeelings recorded elsewhere. In the tin, in the steeped aroma, in the taste, there’s less sharpness — none of the sharp, high notes that I associate with second flush darjeelings. Instead, it’s more mellow and round. More stone fruit (peach in particular) than grape/wine.

The dry leaves are smaller and darker than some other darjeelings I’ve had, and the steeped tea has a light, peach-gold color and is clear.

In the aroma and flavor, there’s an unusual note that’s reminiscent of a malty black tea.

Definitely a distinctive flavor, and less of the filling, water-logged feeling after drinking this than I sometimes get with first flush darjeelings. Which are all to the good.