2023 Organic Monteviot First Flush Darjeeling Black Tea

The 2023 harvest is now sold out. The 2024 harvest is likely to arrive in late Spring.

Our Organic Monteviot First Flush Darjeeling is sourced from the Monteviot Estate, located in the southern part of Darjeeling at an elevation of 5,600 ft. Lively, fresh, floral, and slightly astringent, this tea has all the wonderful qualities of a great first flush. We have only a limited quantity of this seasonal tea, which won’t last long!

Cups Per Package

This tea is carefully packaged by hand in a reusable tin or a resealable kraft bag. Our 3 oz. tin or kraft bag makes approximately 35 to 40 cups of tea.

Ingredients

Organic black tea (Origin: Monteviot Estate, Darjeeling, India)

Tasting Notes

Bright and lightly vegetal, with a hint of eucalyptus and a lingering finish.

How to Brew First Flush Darjeeling Tea

Use 1 level teaspoon per 6 oz. water. Heat water to boiling. Steep for 2 to 4 minutes.

We recommend infusing this tea using a teapot, tea infuser, or tea filter. These brewing methods allow the tea leaves to expand fully and result in a more flavorful cup. We recommend enjoying first flush Darjeeling on its own, without any added milk or sweetener, in order to enjoy the unique flavor of this premium tea.

First Flush Darjeeling Tea Caffeine Content

Black tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine, less than half as much as coffee per cup.

First Flush Darjeeling Tea Health Benefits

Black tea boosts energy, helps with focus, and is a lower-caffeine alternative to coffee.

More About First Flush Darjeeling

Sometimes called the “champagne of teas,” Darjeeling has long been a popular staple in the tea world. Grown at high elevation in the Darjeeling region of India, Darjeeling tea is a fine black tea with floral notes and a delicate character. The specific terroir in which Darjeeling is grown, along with growing and harvesting techniques perfected over the course of centuries, contribute to its unique flavor and superior quality.

Most Darjeeling black tea is produced from the second flush of the leaves, harvested from June to August. First flush Darjeeling, however, is harvested in the spring, and is even rarer and more highly sought after than the more common second flush. Since it’s the first tea harvest of the year, first flush teas are often produced in smaller quantities, and can sell out quickly due to their limited supply.

First flush Darjeeling teas are often lighter than their second flush counterparts, featuring less oxidized leaves with green and silver highlights. They brew up a golden color and have a crisp, clean flavor profile with an astringent bite. First flush Darjeelings are typically harvested from March to May, depending on the weather conditions of the region in which they’re grown. Because of their specific character and relatively short season, first flush teas are often some of the freshest teas available, with leaves having been plucked from the tea plant only a few months prior to being brewed up into pots of tea all around the world.

Our organic first flush Darjeeling was harvested this spring in the Monteviot Garden. Founded in 1856, the Monteviot Garden is located in the southern Kurseong valley of Darjeeling. Classified as an FTGFOP1 tea, our first flush Darjeeling is composed of the first two tea leaves harvested from the tea plant each year, a mark of exceptional quality. Grown at approximately 5,500 feet elevation, this premium tea features fine, whole leaves with green and silvery tips, and brews up a beautiful golden color.