Darjeeling black teas are known as the 'Champagne of teas'. Usually made from the Chinese Camellia Sinensis variety of the tea plant, they impart a thin-bodied and light-coloured brew with distinctive muscatel notes and a floral aroma. Part of the beauty of this Earl Grey blend is its stunning mix of mossy green and dark brown Darjeeling leaves, harvested in spring yet reminiscent of a forest floor in autumn.

The health benefits of Earl Grey tea

Black teas such as Darjeeling are known to be packed with antioxidants that may help ward off infection and disease. Thanks to the addition of bergamot essential oil, our Darjeeling Earl grey has additional health benefits: studies have shown that bergamot may aid digestion, inhibit inflammation in the gut and help fight bacteria associated with stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Alternatives to this Indian Black Tea blend

Love the heady qualities of Earl Grey? Order a caddy of our Supreme Earl Grey – rich in bergamot oil and bright cornflowers, it's a benchmark example of the style. For another delicate example with more floral notes, try our Mary Grey. If you love the light muscatel richness of this classic Indian tea-producing region combined with the lighter, grassy qualities of a spring flush, try our Darjeeling House Blend. Or for a Darjeeling with the lighter piney notes of the region's summer harvest, look to our Margaret's Hope second-flush tea.

With their colourful mix of fruit, flowers, dark and green leaves, Earl Grey teas are a feast for the eyes. For maximum visual enjoyment, consider brewing yours in a glass teapot or infuser. Explore The Tea Makers of London's range of beautiful glassware in our Tea Shop. If you'd like to learn more about the history behind the Earl Grey blend, see our Tea Journal.

On a clear day, the city offers unparalleled views of Kanchenjunga (the world’s third highest mountain), and Mount Everest can also be seen from nearby Tiger Hill, which itself sits at 2,590m above sea level. The highest peaks in the district are part of the Singalila Ridge and reach 3,600m. Depending on the elevation, the climate is either Humid Subtropical (CFA) in the lower areas, or Subtropical Highland (Cwb) on the higher hills, with a Tundra climate (ET) on the higher mountains, and numerous microclimates along the steep relief.

The city itself enjoys a mild and temperate climate (Cwb), with average lows of 10°C in the winter, and average highs of 21°C in the summer. The summers are wet and overcast with high precipitation from May until September; and the winters are mild and clear. Winds are generally low throughout the year. The land between 1,000m and 2,000m is mostly used for cultivation: principally tea, but also rice, corn, wheat and cardamom. The slopes above 2,000m are covered in forests, with a mixture of semi-evergreen, temperate and alpine trees. The forest around the city of Darjeeling is home to rare, protected orchids.

The reserve forests are also home to small Indian civets, mongooses, badgers, as well as a conservation centre for the elusive and endangered red pandas. Teas from such altitudes are considered high-grown. Considering that Darjeeling is only 280 miles from Assam, it is remarkable that the two regions produce vastly different teas.

As well as climatic and topographic differences, soil quality varies. Whilst Assam is considered very fertile, Darjeeling soil is loose and poorly consolidated, with risks of landslides. But the steep slopes ensure efficient drainage, and the misty, wet summers with limited direct sunlight are ideal for the cultivation of the Camellia sinensis sinensis. The mild, dry winters also encourage a period of dormancy, so the new Spring leaves can burst with flavours (First Flush harvest).