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Second Flush Garden Darjeeling

The best of these teas are picked with the bushes in full sap during a short four week period in late June and early July. The famous "muscatel" character is truly in evidence then and the outstanding qualities have a wonderful appearance, rounded, fruity, mellow summer flavours and reddish infusion. They are highly aromatic with complex spicy notes. They are more full bodied than first flush teas but are still best enjoyed without milk and especially delicious with a lump of sugar in the Indian style. The two leaves and a bud are hand picked for the best tea which will release a flavour bursting with the summer sun and refreshing warm summer rains. This flavour is variously described as being reminiscent of muscatel grapes and with a fragrance like a rose garden in bloom or the sweet scent of peach skin. The real 'muscatel' character whilst hinted at in most second flush teas is truly overwhelming in some. The leaves are succulent with an almost purplish bloom and whitish buds. When infused the leaves have a lovely burnished copper hue. This flush produces some of the most remarkable teas in the world and I would recommend trying, at least once, one of our sample packs of the top of the range teas on offer.



Product Name Price- Weight
 Tumsong 'Moonlight Delight'   Sample Packet Available £19.00
 100g 
Tumsong is an excellent, organic garden producing some of the most interesting teas in Darjeeling. I fell in love with this Oolong, which was produced during the second flush season, when I poured the water onto the dry leaves and experienced the delightful fragrance. Its true ‘Muscatel’ flavour puts into a very small group of teas that are made like this in any one year. The leaves can be rebrewed a number of times.
 Makaibari Vintage Muscatel from the Leopard's Lair   Sample Packet Available £15.00
 100g 
A real vintage picking of just 8 kilos from the famous Makaibari garden. A classic full bodied second flush tea with an astonishing, 'muscatel' perfume. Such a little amount of tea has this genuine 'muscatel' character which is imparted to the leaf after it is bitten by tiny, aphid like insects. Along with 'Heavenly Muscatel' from Risheehat, it is a tea which should be tried by anyone who loves high quality tea or indeed just the finer things in life!
 Thurbo Supreme 'Classic Muscatel'    £14.30
 100g 
This top 'Muscatel' tea, so called for its resemblance to the fragrance of the wine, is created by the skilled manufacture of the select leaves, bitten by little insects. This causes the leaves to release an enzyme in order to repair itself, which imparts a delicious and distinctive flavour to the tea. A honey fragrance and warm spicy flavours that linger in the mouth make this a 'Supreme' tea. The name of the garden owes its origins to a historical event. In order to invade Nepal, years ago, the British set up camp in the estate, camp or ‘Tombu’ means tent, in local language. The name, may have become Thurbo in later years. The altitude of Thurbo ranges from 762 metres to 1890 metres. Situated in idyllic Mirik, near Nepal, established in 1872, Thurbo nestles in the shadows of the mighty Kanchenjunga.
 Margaret's Hope 'Heavenly Flower'   Sample Packet Available £13.20
 100g 
This is ‘muscatel’ in its most intense form. It comes from the Margarets Hope garden and the plucking amounted to just 17kgs. Its heavenly fragrance is as a result of a gift of nature. At the peak of the second flush period the leaves on the bush are bitten by a tiny insect causing the leaf to secrete an enzyme to repair itself. This process turns the leaves different shades of green, brown and yellow whilst also enabling the production of the most complex fragrance in the finished tea. Words cannot do justice to it but once you have experienced it in the cup you will understand why it is so highly prized. The bushes used are from a specific part of the garden planted by the original manager, it was his daughter whom the garden was named after. One of the world’s rarest delights.
 Castleton 'Divine Muscatel'   Sample Packet Available £12.20
 100g 
A delicious tea bursting with 'Muscatel' perfume and flavour from this famous garden's second flush. Castleton situated in the Kurseong Valley is one of the most revered gardens in Darjeeling and is bought at great prices by Japanese merchants for its name alone.
 Jungpana Muscatel SP    £12.00
 100g 
Jungpana is a tiny, beautiful and renowned garden in the Mahanadi district close to the river. The garden is on a steep slope next to the fine Goomtee garden. It is incredibly remote and only accessible by foot which also plays a part in its scant supply. This rich liquoring infusion yields the classic 'muscatel' character with hints of almond or walnut depending on infusion time. The aroma has hints of peach and floral notes. All this and with a delightful honey finish. It is considered a 'sky' or celestial tea for good reason.
 Darjeeling TGFOP Decaffeinated    £6.90
 100g 
This naturally decaffeinated Darjeeling has a mild, flowery flavour with a light copper coloured cup.

Sample packet is available where this image is shown   Sample packet is available where this image is shown.
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