Darjeeling tea is a type of black tea that is grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. It is known for its unique musky and floral aroma, and is often referred to as the “champagne of teas”. It is also known for its light, delicate flavor with a hint of astringency and a natural musky aroma. Darjeeling tea is usually harvested during three seasons:
First Flush: The first harvest of the year, which takes place in late February to mid-April. It is known for its light, delicate flavor and flowery aroma.
Second Flush: The second harvest of the year, which takes place in May and June. It is known for its full-bodied, musky flavor and strong aroma.
Autumnal Flush: The last harvest of the year, which takes place in October and November. It is known for its rich, dark color and stronger flavor.
Darjeeling teas are graded based on the size of the leaf and the quality of the tea. The grading system includes:
Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (TGFOP)
Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP)
Orange Pekoe (OP)
Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP)
Fannings
Dust
Darjeeling tea is considered a protected geographical indication (GI) product, meaning that only teas grown in the specific region of Darjeeling can be labeled as “Darjeeling tea”.
Variety of Darjeeling Tea
There are several varieties of Darjeeling tea, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics. Some of the most common varieties include:
First Flush Darjeeling: This is the first harvest of the season and is known for its light, delicate flavor and floral aroma.
Second Flush Darjeeling: This is the second harvest of the season and is known for its full-bodied flavor and musky aroma.
Autumnal Darjeeling: This is the third and final harvest of the season and is known for its rich, robust flavor and fruity aroma.
SFTGFOP (Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): This is a high-quality Darjeeling tea that is known for its large leaves and high proportion of tips.
FTGFOP (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): This is a high-quality Darjeeling tea that is known for its large leaves and high proportion of tips.
TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): This is a high-quality Darjeeling tea that is known for its large leaves and high proportion of tips.
OP (Orange Pekoe): This is a high-quality Darjeeling tea that is known for its large leaves and high proportion of tips.
BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe): This is a lower quality Darjeeling tea that is made from broken leaves and is less expensive than the other varieties.