Most of our Darjeeling black tea lovers wanted to know how I make my Darjeeling black teas. What goes on in the process of making a sensuous cup that I so often post or tweet about.
We are never born with inbred ideas or thoughts. It’s the external factors that influences us into what we are today.
In my case, and in particular, in this case of making my Darjeeling black teas and enjoying them, I was influenced by an animation, Ratatouille (2007), which is, among other things, about Remi, the rat’s passion to cook delicacies. Just recalling his master-chef’s advice “… remember, ANY ONE CAN COOK”. Yes, and the same goes for making delicious aromatic teas.
ANY ONE CAN MAKE A PERFECT CUP OF DARJEELING BLACK TEA.
One of the Darjeeling black teas from Darjeeling.The First Flush tea 2012
Most of the procedures mentioned here are the basics of what goes on into making a perfect cuppa.
Water for Steeping Darjeeling Black Teas:
Black teas of Darjeeling require water at high temperatures, just below the boiling point. That should be between 90°C to 95°C.
Why?
That’s a subject which will be discussed in detail later in my forthcoming blog posts. I prefer filtered water to a direct tap water since, among other things, it cuts off the odours which is imperative for making a perfect cup.
Tea Leaves for Darjeeling Black Teas:
I’ve a liking for either the first flush of Darjeeling black tea or the second flush of Darjeeling black tea.
The Darjeeling black teas of second flush leaves have strong aromas called the Muscatel which is perfect to wake you up from your tiredness and peps you with raw energy. (For first timers wanting to try high quality Darjeeling black teas, this flush is a must try.)
First flush of Darjeeling black teas have subtle sensuousness in the form of aromas and a wide variety of flavours depending on the tea making process and varying between each of the 87 tea gardens of the Darjeeling black tea producing hills.
Darjeeling Black TeaTo enjoy teas, you have to enjoy the leaves as well. Feel the crispiness in your palms. The sight of high end teas, such as theDarjeelingblack teas are a delight to watch and to quote verbatim oneDarjeelingblack tea aficionado fromGermany, “It’s a tea-porn”.
Loosely fist a palm-full with the leaves and blow a couple of short breaths into the opening between the encircled thumb and the index finger. Close your eyes as you smell the leaves. Breathe deep within and suck in the aromas emanating from the tea leaves.
PURE BLISS.
A royal treat to your senses.
Fine quality Darjeeling black teas do just. It makes you feel SPECIAL.
Privileged.
Imperial.
Heavenly.
Vessel for brewing Darjeeling Black Teas:
Choose an open vessel to steep your teas. Closed or narrower ones constricts the free flow of the flavours out from the leaves. Same goes for the caged strainer type steepers. Constrict the leaves & you prevent the full potential. Same goes with the artists. Hmmm. (Am I taking in rhetoric?)
I prefer a china bowl since it never leaves any odour of its own. First, rinse it with the already boiled water and then steep.
Liquor of Darjeeling Black Tea
Steeping Time for Darjeeling Black Teas:
Steeping time depends on the quality of the tea leaves and from one garden to another.Darjeelingblack teas are best brewed between 3 to 4 minutes and some exceptional ones like the Silver Needles requiring more than 5 minutes.
(For sugarless Darjeeling black teas, I prefer to follow my Two-third rule for making a sugarless Darjeeling tea posted earlier in this blog. )
Stir the tea leaves and the water a bit in between to prevent the flavours from constricting below their actual potential. What you’ll see when you lift the lid of the brewing vessel, is a concentrated clouding of the liquor surrounding the leaves. This concentrated prevents further oozing of the flavours from the leaves. Osmosis! (Hope you’ve heard about.)
A few twirls with a spoon dilutes the areas & the oozing continues.
Benefits of stirring:
a) It lets you take in the aromas.
b) You get a constant flavour on each brewing.
c) It allows you to analysis the steeping stage. (Recommended for new teas)
Miuscatel variety of the Darjeeling Black TeaDrinking Cups to enjoy Darjeeling Black Teas:
I prefer cups the size of which are deep and wide enough to concentrate the emanating aromas towards the olfactory organs. There have been suggestions from one of our avid Darjeeling black tea lover from France, about enjoying the teas in a wine glass. All cups or glasses are good so long it aids in enjoying your high end Darjeeling black teas.
One advice which have repeatedly been given by all tea aficionado from the past as well as the present.
Drink best quality teas, such as theDarjeelingblack teas, with a focused mind. Throw aside your worldly affairs for a while.
“Tea & tension, NEVER were best friends”
(You may use this quote. Please never forget to credit it to the creator whose name is listed below.)
😉
Happy Sipping.
Niranjan Naulakha