Tasting notes: A Darjeeling of remarkable balance and character, this tea offers a wonderfully full body paired with a refined astringency that appeals equally to those who favour a light, delicate cup or a robust, full-strength brew. Subtle musk notes weave through the liquor, layered with ripe fruit and a natural honeyed sweetness that lingers gracefully on the palate. Elegant and versatile, it is a cup that rewards both the casual sipper and the discerning tea connoisseur with every infusion.
Detailed Description
Dry Tea Leaf:
Appearance:
The dry leaf presents a beautifully composed palette — a harmonious interplay of light and dark brown twisted leaves, each one craftily rolled to a fine, even form that speaks of meticulous hand-processing. Sourced from the AV2 cultivar grown at 4,800 feet, the leaves carry a natural depth of tone, ranging from warm chestnut to deeper umber. Scattered throughout is a delicate sprinkling of silver tips, their fine downy bloom catching the light and signalling the careful selection of tender young buds at the peak of the flush.
The overall appearance is one of quiet craftsmanship — well-twisted, evenly graded, and unmistakably Darjeeling in character. The interplay of light and dark leaf, accented by silver tips, reflects both the high-elevation terroir and the AV2 clone's renowned bud-rich, aromatic yield.
Fragrance: The fragrance opens with a deep, musky richness that sets the character of this second flush — full-bodied and unmistakably assertive, layered beneath a wave of fresh, lively notes. Floral undertones weave through with quiet grace, with delicate hints of rose emerging distinctly, lending the cup a refined, almost perfumed elegance. Together, the musk and rose create a fragrance that feels both robust and beautifully composed.
Liquor:
Appearance: Sparkling hues of bright hues of sunrise.
Fragrance: The brewed liquor unveils a richer, more expressive version of the dry leaf's promise — florals now in full bloom, honey notes deepened and rounded by warmth, and a gentle musk rising softly through the cup. A full-bodied richness underlies the fragrance, lending weight and presence to the cup, while quiet elegance balances full blossom, warm honey, and lingering sweetness in perfect measure.
Tasting Notes: A measured astringency greets the palate from the outset — assertive enough to signal a tea of real depth, yet refined enough to never overpower, equally suited to a light pour or a fuller brew. It eases away swiftly, opening into a full, rounded body that moves across the tongue with quiet assurance.
As the liquor opens, its layers emerge in unhurried succession. A warm musk surfaces first, deep and earthy, lending the cup gravity and depth. Ripe fruit follows close behind, vivid and juicy, before melting into a natural sweetness reminiscent of wild honey — never sugary, always restrained and true. Together, these notes settle into a liquor that feels both substantial and graceful, robust without ever losing its poise.
The finish is where this tea lingers longest and speaks most clearly — long, warm, and quietly persistent, with the honeyed musk returning gently at the close to leave a lasting richness on the palate that draws the drinker back for one more cup.
Okayti Tea Estate is located in Mirik, 45 kilometers from Darjeeling. Established in 1888, it is one of the oldest tea plantation of the Darjeeling region. A high elevation organic tea garden which has a good mix of clonal and chinary tea bushes planted in 208 hectares of the lush green hills.
