Darjeeling First Flush
Last Updated: Mar. 14, 2014
↑About Darjeeling First Flush
Although technically classified as a black tea, first flush Darjeeling tea has often a lighter, often greenish color and can be much milder than most black teas. Many first flush Darjeeling teas are low in bitterness, but relatively high in astringency, and can have considerable natural sweetness.
They often have a pronounced floral aroma as well, and some have a "muscatel" aroma, suggesting muscat grapes. In many respects, these teas more closely resemble greener oolong teas in color, flavor, and aroma because the oxidation is less complete than in most black teas. However, they are usually considered distinct from proper Darjeeling oolongs.
First flush Darjeeling is considered a highly desirable tea, and can be very expensive, although the range of prices is broad. Broken-leaf, single-estate first flush teas can sometimes be less expensive than whole-leaf, mixed-flush, blended Darjeeling. Because the qualities of each tea depend on the climate conditions of the particular year of harvest, the batches can vary considerably from year to year.
Brewing first flush teas
In contrast to darker black teas, which most companies recommend brewing with boiling water, some companies recommend brewing first flush Darjeeling teas, especially lighter batches, with water that has cooled somewhat from boiling, around 180°-190°F. Whether or not this is necessary can vary hugely from one tea to the next.Niraj Lama of Happy Earth Tea, explains that high grades of Darjeeling first flush work exceptionally well with cold brewing, which he explains on a blog post on cold brewing Darjeeling.
↑Recent First Flush Reviews — RSS
Darjeeling FTGFOP1 Mirik Valley First Flush Organic (No. 226) from TeaGschwendner
Style: Darjeeling First Flush – Region: Darjeeling, IndiaDec. 25th, 2020
Half-litre pot at home, made from a sample included in the tea company's Advent Tea Calendar (2020) and consisting of fine Darjeeling leaves in all shades of green and some brown ones, too. Pours clear lightish amber (against white china) with no sediment. Clear aroma of Darjeeling tea leaves, leafy and a little malty....
Read Full ReviewDarjeeling No. 9 TGFOP1 Himalaya First Flush (No. 215) from TeaGschwendner
Style: Darjeeling First Flush – Region: Darjeeling, IndiaSep. 26th, 2020
Half-litre cup at home, made from fine small green, brown and yellow leaves. Pours clear peach yellow (against white china) with no sediment. Very mild aroma of fresh leaves, much faintier than the loose leaves themselves emit. Mild, leafy but fresh and pure flavour of black tea, with floral touches. A delicate palate,...
Read Full ReviewDarjeeling, Puttabong Estate, 1st Flush from Simpson & Vail
Style: Darjeeling First Flush – Region: Darjeeling, IndiaOct. 25th, 2018
A tricky-to-brew tea that reminded me a lot of green oolongs from Taiwan, and required a lower water temperature to brew to satisfaction.
The dry leaf, quite broken, is an intense green color, like a lot of good Darjeeling first flush. It looks exactly like pictured in the company photo (I appreciate honest photogra...
Seeyok First Flush Darjeeling from Coffee and Tea Exchange
Style: Darjeeling First Flush – Region: Darjeeling, IndiaSep. 18th, 2018
With the most prominent notes being pineapple, cranberry, and lemongrass, this tea is almost like drinking tart fruit juice. I love it because of that, but I can see others disliking it for the same reason. I taste a bit of honey as well. First flush is stereotyped as floral, but I don't get a lot of that here. There a...
Read Full ReviewDarjeeling de Triomphe Black Tea from Teavana
Style: Darjeeling First Flush – Region: Darjeeling, IndiaFeb. 27th, 2018
I will likely revise this review after a few more times trying this tea. It seems high quality with a grassy quality, but I can’t decide how I feel about the bitter undertones. I generally am not a fan of bitter teas. To be fair, it might be a fault of my brewing. I do overall enjoy this tea, though, so long as it is...
Read Full ReviewRead More Reviews of First Flush (44) ...
↑Top Reviewers
Rank | User | # | % |
1 | Alex Zorach | 19 | 33 |
2 | Brytta Sóþword | 4 | 7 |
3 | Kelsey | 3 | 5 |
4 | Amanda | 2 | 4 |
5 | Mr Bamsen | 2 | 4 |
Review 3 teas to get on this list!
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↑Most-Rated First Flush
Singbulli Darjeeling DJ41
Brand: | Harney and Sons |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Singbulli, Darjeeling Black Tea, First Flush 2014
Brand: | Happy Earth Tea |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Darjeeling de Triomphe Black Tea
Brand: | Teavana |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Darjeeling Vidyaranya Black Tea
Brand: | Teavana |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Puttabong, Darjeeling First Flush 2014.
Brand: | Happy Earth Tea |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
↑Top-Rated First Flush
Darjeeling de Triomphe Black Tea
Brand: | Teavana |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Singbulli, Darjeeling Black Tea, First Flush 2014
Brand: | Happy Earth Tea |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Singbulli Darjeeling DJ41
Brand: | Harney and Sons |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Puttabong, Darjeeling First Flush 2014.
Brand: | Happy Earth Tea |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Darjeeling Vidyaranya Black Tea
Brand: | Teavana |
Style: | Darjeeling First Flush |
Region: | Darjeeling, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |