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Mirik Valley, Darjeeling
Autumnal Flush, November
5500-7000 ft
AV2
Whole leaf oolong tea
Our Rare Frosted Oolong is a sensational autumnal tea from the high mountains of Mirik in Darjeeling. It is made for a two week period in November, from frosted leaves as temperatures reach below freezing at night. If you visit Mirik during this time, you will find that the landscape is stunning. With a cold nip in the air, there is a sleepy feel to the town and tea gardens. While the tea plants are just about ready to become dormant for the prolonged winter in the high mountains, the gardens are dotted with pink blooms of cherry blossom trees and fruit laden orange trees. If you are able to wake up just early enough you will see tea pluckers bundled up in their woolens walking up to the highest altitude of the tea garden to pick the most delicate frosted two leaves and a bud which are then used to create this tea. After plucking, the tea undergoes outdoor withering, oxidation, fixation, hand rolling and drying. We were in Darjeeling in November and were absolutely enthralled by this wonderful experience. It was a quintessential and romantic feeling that is simply Darjeeling!
This tea is definitely a perfect cup to cozy with during the fall. With a lovely amber color it has a rich mouthfeel and flavor and is reminiscent of mulled wine. You will experience beautiful flavor notes of honey, malt, oranges, plums, oak and spices like cardamom and cloves. Just like the orange trees in Mirik Valley that are laden with ripe juicy oranges at this time, this tea definitely has a predominant orange flavor note that reminds you of a natural Earl Grey! Small batch and premium, this tea is a must try if you are a tea enthusiast or aficionado.
Low-Moderate
Number of infusions per 2.5 g: 3-4
2.5 gms of tea (use a digital scale)
120-150 ml (4-5 fl-oz) or 1/2 - 2/3rd cup of water at 90°C - 95°C (or 195°F - 205°F)
This tea works great for the gongfu method of steeping as it helps coax out all the subtle flavors.
We recommend 5 gm of tea
100 ml water (approximate 10-20 ml of water per 1 gm of tea) at 85°C - 90°C (or 185°F - 195°F).
Origin
Mirik is a small charming town nestled in the serene hills of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. At an elevation of 5000 ft., it is surrounded by lush tea gardens, orange orchards, cardamom plantations, and forests of tall, dark Japanese cedars. Mirik, pronounced as Mir-yok, means ‘a place burnt by fire’ in Lepcha. Its cool and moist climate make it the perfect setting for growing tea.
Meet
Red pandas dwell in the Eastern Himalayan region of India and also in China. They are skillful acrobats that are arboreal. They are mostly herbivorous and their name comes from a Nepali word “ponya” which means one who eats bamboo. Red pandas are endangered and there are about 10,000 animals left, of which over 50% live in India.
