Making a Perfect Cup/Pot of Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling tea comes from a region of Indian Himalayas and is marked by a taste unique to the terroir. Often described as "champagne of teas," Darjeeling tea has three distinct seasonal characters. The teas produced in spring, also called Darjeeling "first flush," has a delicate body with appearance that can be easily mistaken for a green tea. The summer production is referred to as Darjeeling "second flush." It is bolder and darker, more typical of what is known as black tea. The third major tea season is the "autumn flush" and it is produced during autumn. The tea from this season is similar to the second flush with subtle differences.   

To make a pot of Darjeeling tea

• Boil water in a kettle – do not use a microwave as it will affect the brewing process. Use filtered or bottled water for best results. 
• If it is first flush Darjeeling, heat water to 175-180F
• If it is second or autumn flush Darjeeling, heat water to 190-200F
• Use around one teaspoon of tea for each cup into the tea pot.
• For larger leaf Darjeelings use a tablespoon of tea.
• If you have a scale, measure 2.5 gm - 3 gm for a 8 oz cup 
• Pour hot water into the tea pot with the tea
• Let it steep for 3 minutes.
• Remove strainer if the tea pot has one, or use a hand held strainer to pour tea into the cup.
• Milk and sweetener are optional
• Premium Darjeeling teas can be steeped twice. Steep the second time for 5 minutes. 
• Another optional step is to heat your tea pot before using by rinsing it with hot water. This step is especially helpful during winter when the colder tea ware consumes much of the water's heat. By pre-warming the tea ware you make sure that the leaves get enough heat to steep and that will bring out all the flavors. 

To make a cup of Darjeeling tea

The best way to make a cup of tea is to use a single cup infuser or a cup that comes with its own infuser. This will make it very easy to make a perfect cup of Darjeeling tea, for that matter almost any kind of tea. 

• Warm the cup or mug by rinsing it with hot water.
• Place the infuser in the cup.
• Put a tea spoon or a tablespoon of tea into the infuser.
• Pour freshly heated water.
• Steep for 3 minutes. Resteep for 5 minutes.
• Remove the infuser.
• Your cup is ready.