Tasting Notes
This Himalayan tea is an early pluck, straight after the dormant winter, rich in stored sweetness. Highly fragrant and floral it is light and elegant as a green tea whilst combining the satisfying malty, chocolate notes that will be more pronounced in the Second Flush. Best enjoyed without milk.
Quantity
Use 0.1 oz of leaf per 5.5 fl oz of water (2.5g per 150ml).
Temperature
For the optimum infusion use 176°F (80°C) water.
Time
Infuse for 90 seconds, tasting regularly.
Infusions
You can infuse this tea at least three times. With each careful infusion, different subtleties of flavour are revealed.
Cost Per Cup
48¢ per cup based on 0.1 oz of tea per 5.5 fl oz of water and 3 infusions.
Buddha Jayanti full moon
This Darjeeling first flush tea was plucked during a 2023 Buddha Jayanti full moon.
The Small Growers Society use traditional farming methods without any chemical pesticides and herbicides. Even before the popularity of organic tea, the land was kept untouched by chemicals, in part due to the high costs, and an unwillingness to become dependent on products they could not produce themselves.
Many varieties of herbs, fruits and vegetables are grown alongside the teas to ensure rich biodiversity.
DARJEELING, INDIA
An independent cooperative
This loose leaf tea comes from a community of 60 independent families working together within the specially designated region of Darjeeling. The cooperative is nurtured by the pioneering organic tea farmer Rajah Banerjee. They work under truly organic and regenerative principles.
Before the cooperative the growers had no direct route to market and so their leaves were sold to larger tea companies. They had no control over the price they would be paid nor the end quality of the tea.
By purchasing their own tea processing equipment they now have control over the end product, allowing them to craft higher quality loose leaf Darjeeling tea and retain the value of their leaves and craft.
SMALL TEA GROWERS SOCIETY
Yanki & Allan Rai
The Small Tea Growers Society was founded by Yankhu Tamang (Yanki) & her son Allan Rai.
Yanki founded the society to look after her fellow local tea farmers and not be forced to supply giant agribusiness who showed no concern for the local community or the land.
Her son Allan Rai is an experimental tea maker who focuses on the crafting of their precious leaf into truly extraordinary tea.
