Finally, after trying several Darjeeling teas, I think I've finally found one that expresses how they're supposed to taste. Most of them, in my relatively limited experience so far, have been "off" in some way: flat, or metallic, or weak, or muddy, or "old" tasting, or just ordinary and nothing special (like a lot of motel food-service teas). Given their high repute, I was starting to wonder if Darjeeling-appreciation buds are simply missing from my tongue and this tea type won't work for me, or if I've been on a remarkable run of mediocrity to inferiority.

This fine specimen proves it is the latter. I obtained "Organic Darjeeling Estate" from a college-run motel, but based value off online pricing. As this turned out to be a remarkably high-quality bagged tea, but also quite expensive, I struck a balance on the scale and called it "reasonable."

The dry-bag aroma wafted out nicely: not particularly strong, but rich, inviting, somewhat floral or fruity, a little earthy. I'm not used to aromatic complexities obvious enough for my weather-beaten nostrils to detect in dry black tea, so this was a pleasant surprise. In-cup, the aroma was richer on the tea side, and lost the fruity/floral element. However, the flavor brought it back, but stronger, rather like a faintly jasmine-infused, somewhat citrusy package (some sips more lemon, most like grapefruit). It also has a definitive but not offputting astringency. The aftertaste leans more savory, and root-fruity (like beet or yam). Every one of those elements also seemed to vary in influence from sip to sip. The wet-bag aroma returned to more of a full-tea, earthy experience, in a good way.

If this is more of a standard bearer for Darjeelings, I'm now eager to try some of those regarded as superior, instead of hesitant on whether they're worth a gamble that may not be one after all.

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