Ingredients: Darjeeling black tea (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)

Cup Characteristics: A delicate tending astringent cup with the distinctive ‘Muscatel’ character. Hints of currant create an almost wine-like taste.

Options: Great with milk and sugar.

Benefits: The health benefits of black tea have been well documented for quite some time, and if you are thinking of adding more black tea to your diet, then its health benefits likely have played a big part in your decision. The big difference between black tea and other types of tea, like white and green tea, is that it is more oxidized. As a result of this increased oxidation, black tea is a lot more flavourful and caffeine-laden than its counterparts which do not enjoy this amount of oxidation. Drinking black tea is also help to reduce cardiovascular problems, prevent cancer and lower risk of diabetes.

Fun to know: The are 3 main times of year for producing good quality Darjeelings: 1st flush - Springtime harvested teas from late Feb. to mid-April. The young leaves yield a light tea with generally intense muscatel with ‘point’. A gentle afternoon tea. 2nd flush - Harvested in June, these teas are more fully developed. The liquor is bright and the taste full and round excellent muscatel. A superb afternoon tea that is especially good with scones and raspberry conserve. Autumnal - Not always available depending upon the weather, they are typified by a round taste and coppery liquor. Excellent as a breakfast tea.