Why Darjeeling Tea Is Called the Champagne of Teas
The foothills of the Himalayas are the source of one of the most popular tea varieties in the world: Darjeeling tea. Over the years, this variety has earned the title of Champagne of Teas among connoisseurs. In this post, we will decipher the reasoning behind this name.
Natural Factors
The topography and geographical location of Darjeeling is naturally conducive to tea growth. Factors such as a cool climate, optimum rainfall (not too much or too nor less) contribute to its uniqueness. Additionally, water can’t get stagnant due to the sloping land. Therefore, the plantation receives water in the perfect amount of quantity, allowing it to grow efficiently. As the leaves continue to get frequent rainwater, it generates the terrific flavor of Darjeeling blends.
Special Harvesting
Harvesting Darjeeling tea also adds a great deal of value to the quality and freshness of the blends. Leaves are handpicked after a meticulous selection to ensure you get the real flavor of Darjeeling tea.
Preference to Old Ways
These days, most teas are grown through modern, machine-based production models that have taken the output quantity to unprecedented levels. However, this approach leads to a noticeable drop in quality.
On the other hand, Darjeeling tea producers have stuck firmly with the old ways. This means that it is still produced using the methods from 1845 (when it was produced first in the region). The laborious steps involved in Darjeeling need a greater set of experience and expertise, giving the manufacturers a higher degree of flexibility over the different variables that influence the chemistry of the leaves. These seemingly-minor chemical changes incorporate unique characteristics to each tea.
Not Every Tea Makes It To the Market
No tea tastes fresher than a cup of Darjeeling. Why is that? It mainly boils down to its tea tasting procedure.
After harvesting, tea connoisseurs taste all varieties of Darjeeling to make sure it retains its original flavor. Only teas approved by these experts are sold in the market.
The Charm of First Flush
Although all Darjeeling flushes boast tremendous quality, the first flush is in a league of its own. It is made from the most tender and youngest leaves of the tea plant, well-known for its complex and delicate flavor. It is popular due to its astringency, but its nuanced flavor profile contains muscatel and floral notes, along with hints of stone fruit. Hence, it is no surprise that each year, the first flush of Darjeeling tea is coveted around the globe.
Do you want to discover the delicate, mouthwatering pleasure of Darjeeling tea?
Now that you know why Darjeeling is called the Champagne of teas,
let’s order a batch and make it a part of your kitchen.