The origins of our Selimbong 2021 Darjeeling First Flush
From the organic Selimbong tea estate comes this outstanding Darjeeling first flush loose-leaf tea. A high-grown tea from the Mirk Valley with an exceptionally light, sweet and floral flavour, Selimbong Darjeeling is best enjoyed mid-morning or in the afternoon for a delicate, refreshing cup.
Notable for its rolled green tea leaves featuring an abundance of silvery buds, Selimbong has a light golden yellow infusion that preserves all the wonderful subtle flavour components of first flush Darjeeling. A single-origin, spring-blossom tea, it offers a delightful, highly aromatic aroma of peaches and mint, with hints of pine that hark to its mountain origins in the foothills of the Himalayas.
This is an prime quality Indian black tea – with all the associated antioxidant health benefits – but with its light yellow colour, it almost resembles a white tea. That means it's at its best when served on its own, so we do not recommend adding milk, although a little squeeze of lemon and a drop of honey may enhance its flavour.
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Darjeeling first flush teas are harvested from March to April and revered for their floral, grassy qualities, leading to them being described as the 'Champagne of teas'. Located in the state of West Bengal, in northeast India, Darjeeling teas are grown at high elevations, up to 2,130m. The Darjeeling district is also renowned for its wide use of the traditional orthodox tea production method instead of the CTC (Crush Tear Curl) method used in mass production.
Selimbong Estate, which produces this small-batch tea, is one of the region's most historic tea gardens located in the Mirk Valley. Founded in 1886 at an altitude of 1800m on the Indo-Nepal border in the Mirk Valley, the estate has a reputation for producing teas of outstanding quality, and this 2021 Darjeeling first flush is no exception.
Similar black teas from India's Darjeeling region
One of the most eagerly anticipated times of year on the Indian tea calendar is the spring release of the first flush Darjeelings. Our tea tasters have sourced some of the district's best for you to try. Exceptional examples of the 2021 season include Goomtee, Margaret's Hope, Snowview and Upper Namring. You can compare these with a classic second flush Darjeeling from the Margaret's Hope Estate and the summer harvest. Happy sipping!
Can't decide which Darjeeling to try? Sample six of our 2021 Darjeeling first flush teas with a Discovery Pack. You can find out more about Darjeeling and what makes its flushes so special in our Tea Journal.