Darjeeling FTGFOPI Second Flush – Black Tea

Brew & Taste

Darjeeling Second Flush FTGFOP1 is characterized by its delicate, fresh taste and full-bodied infusion. A floral aftertaste may appear in the finish, leaving a pleasant sweetness on the palate together with a natural astringency. This tea is described as round, with no distracting elements.

Origins

Darjeeling is one of the real gems among black teas. They are grown only in the Himalayan foothills, around the former colonial town of Darjeeling. Less than a hundred tea plantations are situated at an altitude of 2000m. Employees of small family farms where the craft is passed down from generation to generation work there. The men take care of tending the tea bushes all year round, while the women are responsible for harvesting the leaves. It is done by hand in difficult terrain and involves climbing hills and going down from the steep slopes with heavy baskets. Young girls and old Indian women go to the tea trees (Camellia sinensis) early in the morning before the dew falls. Darjeeling's Second Flush FTGFOP1 comes from the second harvest which usually takes place from mid-May to early June. The leaves are allowed to wilt briefly, then are rolled and left to ferment naturally. That oxidizes the enzymes and changes the color, taste and aroma. All the steps in the production of Darjeeling are strictly supervized, the fermentation rate must not exceed more than 90%, and the temperature during the subsequent drying process is clearly set.

Only about 10,000 tons of tea are produced in the Darjeeling area annually. Because of the high demand, it's not uncommon for a similar tea to be cultivated elsewhere under different conditions and falsely sold as original Darjeeling tea. Producers have thus started to protect themselves with a certification mark. It is a circular logo with the word Darjeeling and a picture of a girl's profile holding a twig of a tea tree.

The term FTGFOP1 (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) refers to a highly prized type of tea from a high mountain plantation produced with exceptional care.

Tea packaging preview

We pack our teas in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. This container protects the quality of the tea against humidity, light or foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew.