Darjeeling tea, known as the Champagne of teas, hails from the Darjeeling region in West Bengal, India and cannot be grown or manufactured anywhere else in the world. “Just as Champagne is indigenous to the Champagne district of France, so is Darjeeling Tea to Darjeeling.” In the United Kingdom, and former British Empire, it stands as second to none among all other black teas. If brewed properly, it should be a thin-bodied tea, light in color, with a floral aroma. The flavor of the tea has a “musky spiciness,” referred among tea connoisseurs as “muscatel.” The sensation one should experience after drinking a cup of Darjeeling should be that of a sweet cooling aftertaste.
History of Darjeeling(click here to visit the official Darjeeling site)
Tea planting in the Indian district of Darjeeling was begun during 1841 by a Dr. Campbell, a civil surgeon of the Indian Medical Service, who had been transferred to that area during 1839: he used seeds from China, so the Darjeeling taste is really from the original black tea plant from China, the taste "darjeeling" derives from the earth that it is cultivated in. Experimental tea plantation by Campbell and others occurred during the 1840s and the government established tea nurseries during that period. Commercial exploitation began during the 1850s. ( source- Wikipedia)
( Darjeeling Tea Plantation)
(Darjeeling Tea Garden)
8 comments:
Rebecca, I am really enjoying these tea posts! I just got home from the grocery with a package of Stash's Chocolate Hazelnut Tea and can't wait to try it!!
Lovely, Willow! Please let me know what you think of the Stash's tea...A friend emailed last night to tell me that she tried some as well and loved it! Hum...I could use a cuppa myself:-)
Darjeeling is my favorite! And that plantation is beautiful!
Rebecca, I have a new appreciation for Darjeeling tea! I shall put Darjeeling on my shopping list this week and see if I can achieve the correct brew with a 'cooling aftertaste' (I also have a good reason to buy that cute little tea set I saw the other day)! Thank you Rebecca!
Rebecca, this is a post that seems tailor made to me---I love darjeeling tea so much, and enjoy having it mid afternoon or just before bed. It's delicate taste is what appeals the most, and lovely aroma.
I clicked on your link and visited that website, however, when I entered my name and email address to receive futre updates, it kept coming back as "server error". So I will try again later.
I also happen to think that Darjeeling is a lovely name and would be perfect for a cat or a tiny teacup size dog.!
Please don't banish me from your blog when you hear my admission....I have never been a lover of tea...neither hot nor iced. It's okay...not really a fave though.
With that said, I do find the descriptions of the different teas very interesting. Knowing the history makes them more appealing to me.
I have come a long way...when I was sick recently I made myself a cup of hot peach tea and it was comforting. Maybe some things improve with age....my taste.
I don't mind Darjeeling myself. Funny, but I never even heard of it until coming here.
These posts on tea are wonderful for a tea-lover (but somewhat ignorant one) like myself.
Post a Comment