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Each 1.06 oz Tin contains approximately 10-12 servings. Depending on steeping method, each serving can yield 2-3 cups, for a total of 20-30 cups per tin.
Mirik Valley in Darjeeling
First Flush, March 2021
5500 to 7000 ft
AV2
Lightly oxidized whole leaf black tea
We have chosen this artisanal Darjeeling First Flush tea because it is exquisite. It is exceptionally fragrant and reminiscent of the heady perfume from a blooming spring floral garden. It is rich yet delicate with notes of jasmine, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, and a hint of white peach. As its name suggests, this tea treasure is something you want to keep tucked safely away and bring out on special occasions. Definitely a recommendation for a tea enthusiast or tea aficionado.
This Spring Darjeeling tea from Mirik Valley in Darjeeling is made from leaves of the AV-2 cultivar. The AV-2 cultivar gives the sweet and rich flavors that make Himalayan Darjeeling teas special. The leaves are hand-plucked from the highest altitude of the tea garden during the first few weeks of spring (first pick). When the tea bushes are fresh out of hibernation from a prolonged winter, the most tender young leaves and buds are plucked. After plucking, the leaves are dried naturally for a prolonged period, minimally oxidized, and delicately rolled and dried. Darjeeling Spring Treasure is made in extremely small micro-ghani batches, so the supply of this highly coveted whole leaf tea is always limited.
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 185°F - 195°F (or 85°C - 90°C)
This Darjeeling Spring 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 weather and natural conditions make it the perfect setting for growing tea.
Experience the refreshing benefits of Darjeeling Spring Tea, packed with antioxidants, promoting heart health and strengthening the immune system. The theanine content aids stress management, while its rich flavor refreshes your palate, reducing the need for added sugars. Embrace this tea blend for its potential to enhance focus and protect against common colds.
Read more about First Flush vs. Second Flush Darjeeling 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.
Read more about Herbs & Kettles conservation efforts to save the red panda.
This morning I was able to take the time to brew the lovely tea from Herbs & Kettles — Darjeeling Spring Treasure.
The first scent provided a hint to the brewed result. It was light and very fresh, stirring memories of fresh mown grass and new bales of first-cut alfalfa. I brewed it for 2 minutes, and took a sip — very smooth, but it tasted weak, so I dropped the strainer back in for another 2 minutes… and it was perfect.
Sunshine gold in color; smooth and light on the palate; very clean and uncomplicated. This is a tea I’ll be taking off my shelf when I want something that doesn’t interfere with scones or baked goods. I can easily drink several cups while enjoying “Fika” (Swedish for “coffee break”). It really does bring a sense of Spring to your table!
I love waking up in the morning and making myself a cup of tea, I love it more when I find a brand that has excellent flavor. It is such a treat! Good tea is hard to find, I can stop looking now. Thank you!
Darjeeling first flush teas are made in the first growing season of the month, which is spring. They have a special processing method where they undergo prolonged withering and then oxidation, so they are lightly oxidized teas. They have a lovely freshness with vegetal, floral, and fruity notes reminiscent of a spring meadow.
About low-moderate as this is a lightly oxidized black tea. However, depending on the plucking, if there are more young tea buds and leaves, the caffeine content can increase as caffeine is in the trichomes of the tea leaves, which are most present in the tea buds and younger leaves, and decreases as the leaf gets older.
In Darjeeling, there is very little if no tea production in the winter months, and so after a long period, there is suddenly this beautiful, wonderful artisanal Darjeeling tea which is produced, and just like champagne, it has nuanced, complex notes, and is very prized. The flurry of activity in the first couple weeks when the first flush is being made is so exciting for the tea farmers and buyers. Everyone awaits this “tea treasure” of excellence.
Darjeeling first flush teas are usually a pale yellow with wonderful, complex notes and a delicious fresh bite or astringency,
First Flush teas can be enjoyed without milk, if you choose to add milk, we recommend adding just a dash of milk or cream while the tea is being made.
Our single origin first flush Darjeeling Rare Spring Treasure is sourced from a small boutique, high-altitude tea garden in Mirik Valley in Darjeeling.
Yes, we work directly with tea growers across India and personally select their best batches.
We focus on creating strong partnerships with farmers across India and personally selecting their best batches. Our teas are single origin, small batch, and directly sourced with a focus on flavor, season, and terroir. Our loose-leaf teas are all high quality with nuanced aromas and flavors, excellent for gongfu steeping or Western style steeping.
Unlike commodity teas or other Indian tea companies, which often sell broken teas, we offer whole leaf teas. When steeped, whole leaf teas provide a wonderful taste and flavor without the astringency and bitterness that comes with steeping broken teas.
We are tea sommeliers with strong connections to farmers across India. We select single origin, single batch, directly sourced teas with a focus on flavor, terroir, and season. By eliminating the middleman, we ensure that our teas are fresh, often weeks to months old, compared to commodity teas which can be years old.
Our focus on whole leaf teas ensures wonderful aromas and flavors that you will enjoy. Our customers enjoy our teas and we often hear from tea connoisseurs, “we did not enjoy Indian teas as much until we tried the exceptional teas offered by Herbs & Kettles.”
Our teas are farm fresh and packed at origin. We work with tea farmers who use organic farming methods and ensure that their tea workers are treated fairly, helping to uplift the entire community.
By working directly with tea farmers and maintaining strong partnerships, we eliminate the middleman. Our regional loose leaf teas are packed at origin, ensuring farm-to-cup freshness.
We purchase new lots every year, and our teas are often air mailed to us rather than shipped by ocean, ensuring they are weeks or months old instead of years old which is often a problem with grocery stores or commodity teas. We recommend trying it for yourself to appreciate the freshness and quality of our teas.
Yes, we share our passion for high quality Indian teas by offering seasonal and limited edition teas such as Darjeeling Yanki Red Oolong and Meghalaya Silver Needle. We buy new lots every year ensuring that each tea retains farm to cup freshness and also select new interesting teas for our collection.
Tea lovers may enjoy our premium subscription box - Herbs & Kettles Fine Tea Club, which includes fantastic, seasonal, limited batch teas that are often only weeks old, air mailed directly from our farm partners.
If you're looking for a Darjeeling tea based on the season or flush, we've chosen them with extreme care to ensure that each batch is exceptional and the best of the season.
For those who enjoy malty Assam teas, we have a premium collection, including innovative batches like Assam GABA and Assam Smoked Melody. Our Nilgiri Frosted teas are divine, and we also offer teas from lesser-known regions such as Meghalaya and Sikkim.
Additionally, we carry wild teas from Manipur and Nagaland in the extreme northeastern region of India, close to Yunnan. Can't decide? We offer tea samples to help you find your favorite teas.
