Twinings: Darjeeling

Since having an interest in teas and different varieties, a name I have often come across is 'Darjeeling'.
This is an Indian tea from a district in West Bengal, surprisingly enough called 'Darjeeling'. Today I tried it for the first time and wasn't disappointed.

Darjeeling tea has a wonderful golden colour, it almost mirrors the sunlight from where it is made. This blend is slightly different from other Indian teas, as it is made from a small leaved Chinese plant called Cameilla Sinensis.
The most common form of Darjeeling is black tea also but it also comes in the form of Darjeeling Oolong and Darjeeling green teas.
It is said to have it's delicate and fresh taste due to the high altitude where it is grown on the foothills of the Himalayas; tea started being planted in Darjeeling in the 1840's, all due to a civil surgeon called Dr. Campbell. He was reportedly moved to Darjeeling in 1839 where he planted some apparently stolen seeds; then other people followed. Soon, the British government created more tea nurseries and by the 1850's and 60's commercial development had begun and there were at least 4 gardens belonging to the Darjeeling tea Company.

When I tried Darjeeling, what surprised me most was that it was not completely unlike everyday normal tea. But then the more I drank it the more I tasted the roots from which it is grown; I could almost taste the smells of an indian bush, the dry grass and sandy plains - which was surprisingly pleasant. The flavour could also be described as slightly metallic. However, the taste is golden and delicate leaving a strong aftertaste which could almost be floral. As all of Twinings teas, this blend is smooth and very enjoyable, the envelope also describes a short story of the journey of the Darjeeling tea leaves, which is rather adorable to read.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this tea, it was satisfyingly aromatic and warming, and would be a perfect way to end an evening meal if you want to avoid have a large amount of caffeine before bed.
Personally I would recommend it to anyone to try, as it isn't that far away from the traditional tea we are all used to.
I steeped my tea for 4 minutes and added a small splash of milk. The taste can be pungent so if you prefer weaker tasting teas I would recommend steeping for 3 minutes or less.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.