If you are a tea drinker, you have no doubt tried a Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is one of the most popular teas in the world and is only grown in India. Darjeeling has been around for many years, but is still a bestseller today.
Darjeeling tea is produced only in the Darjeeling region of India. The Darjeeling region is a high altitude area: 4,000-10,000 feet above sea level. In this part of India there is a haze in the air almost constantly. This mist, combined with the high altitude, ensures that the tea trees are always cool and moist. This moisture, combined with the excellent drainage of the soil, produces tea leaves that have a very distinct flavor. It is often described as having a muscat flavour, leading Darjeeling to be known as the “champagne” of teas. Darjeeling is a lighter tea than many black teas, which is why the English consider it one of the best afternoon teas.
The tea from the Darjeeling region of India is so popular that it has even made the area popular with tourists. Every year thousands of people climb these mountains on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to see the beautiful tea gardens.
When you taste a good Darjeeling, you’ll notice definite fruity notes, along with nuts and flowers that blend beautifully with that muscatel flavor that only comes from this part of the world. And, only Darjeeling has that particular astringency. It is one of the things that makes the taste of Darjeeling so unique. And, as a special treat, a really good Darjeeling offers an exquisite bouquet, too, often with the smell of fine wine. But finding a really good Darjeeling can be difficult.
Darjeeling is one of the most popular tea blends and demand often exceeds supply. For this reason, the Darjeeling you buy from many tea vendors is only part Darjeeling as it was blended with other types of black tea, but is labeled as Darjeeling. If you read the label carefully, you’ll see the true combination; usually around 50%.
The rest is filler, mostly low-quality Darjeeling powder or other black teas. In fact, it is estimated that around ten thousand pounds of Darjeeling tea is grown each year, but over forty thousand pounds of tea is sold each year as Darjeeling!
Maintaining a quality tea garden is a year-round job. The first work of the year begins in March, when the tea plants are pruned for the last time before the first plucking begins. Then, in April or May, the tea harvest begins. Tea made from the earliest harvests of the year will generally be the best for the entire growing season. This is because the tea leaves are the most tender in the spring.
Once the first harvest is uprooted, the tea is processed. The black tea leaves will be fully fermented and processed to grade.
During the rest of the year, the tea garden must be cared for to keep it at its best. The plants must be removed throughout the summer in conjunction with the harvest of additional tea crops. Tea plants do most of their growth during the fall, so the plants should be fertilized during this time.
Around October, the tea plants will be pruned in preparation for winter. Then, throughout the winter, the tea gardener must pay special attention to tea plants under the age of four, making sure they are protected from the cold.
Darjeeling tea is easy to find. Exceptional Darjeeling is a rare gift. If you have never had very high quality Darjeeling tea from a quality supplier, you are missing out on one of the best tea experiences in the world. Don’t skimp when it comes to Darjeeling.