2016 Darjeeling First Flushes: patience please…

Darjeeling first flushes arrive in a few days, the moment tea lovers have been waiting for! Harvested by hand at the very moment they mature, these great teas highlight the excellent work of the producers who make every effort to ensure the quality of the new vintage. This is what we saw for ourselves when we went to Darjeeling last March for the first day of the harvest. We were able to taste some of the batches right in the teas gardens and we’re particularly proud of having left these exceptional teas to mature because that is how they reach their full potential. This willingness to wait, a wise move, is noticeable from the first sip…

What’s special about the 2016 harvest?

The winter this year has been particularly dry in Darjeeling. Producers have had to be patient and wait for the ideal harvest conditions. This patience paid off: the long-awaited rain came in late March when we were there for the first harvests. Taking advantage of the warm temperatures last month, the tea plants had time to blossom and young shoots were full of precious essential oils.

Full of freshness, with typical floral notes and a complex aromatic bouquet, each cup is a gastronomic journey to drink alone or with someone else for a real treat!

Young spring shoots in the biodiversity of the Seeyok garden	The arrival of the last harvest of the morning to weigh the fresh leaves at Selimbong

Two exceptional new teas

When we met the producers, we had the chance to taste and select two new first flushes that particularly impressed us. These two great teas, grown using biodynamic and organic agriculture, were created on the day of a full moon in the middle of the festival of colours (Holi). This auspicious day also marked the beginning of the 2016 harvest.

Unveiled in early May …

We had to wait a little longer… these superb harvests were unveiled in early May. Tasting took place at our Tea Room on May 14 at the fair-trade brunch! Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook to get the news first!