How to Drink Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling tea is considered to be the finest of all across the globe, but you will be able to enjoy it at its best only if you make it the right way. Darjeeling tea is generally produced in an age-old fashion without any machines and tearing processes. Delicate leaves of the tea are picked by hand, withered in the air for several hours, and then rolled, fired and oxidized. Teas grown in Darjeeling have a distinct flavor that is specific to that territory only, due to which they have received the name of Darjeeling tea. Read this oneHOWTO article to find out how to drink Darjeeling tea the best way.
Contents
Choosing the right tea
Basically, Darjeeling produces three main types of teas, which are Darjeeling white tea, Darjeeling oolong, and Darjeeling green tea. Let's take a look at each of its specifications:
- White tea is known for its delicate aroma, mellow taste, pale golden color along with some sweetness.
- Oolong tea is lighter, and has muscatel flavor and light orange color.
- The organic green tea is less bitter than black tea, and it is steamed, not fermented, and preserves polyphenols. It is considered to be a very healthy tea with lots of health benefits.
So, the type of Darjeeling tea you choose depends on the type of color, texture and flavor that you like, as per your personal expectations.
Using the right water
The water that you use for making your Darjeeling tea plays an important role in the taste and flavor of your tea. The water that you use should be soft and free from impurities. Otherwise, the flavors in your tea will not be allowed to shine at their best. It is recommended to use non-carbonated bottled water or natural spring water only, but if you don’t have access to these, you can use tap water after purifying it in the water filter.
Making it the right way
Once you have selected the perfect tea and the right water, follow these steps to make a perfect cup of Darjeeling tea:
- Add 1 tea spoon of Darjeeling tea leaves in your teapot
- Heat water until it reaches around 80˚ temperature
- Never use boiled water, as the flavor and nutrients of the leaves may get spoiled due to excessive heat
- Pour the warm water in the teapot
- Let it steep for 2-3 minutes without covering the teapot
- Strain either directly in a cup or in another jar, and serve
Knowing the right way to pour the tea
The best way to steep is to place the leaves in a teapot, allow them to infuse and then filter in a second pot. Metallic infusion balls are not recommended, as the tea leaves may expand and cause blockage in the holes to prevent appropriate infusion. The time you give for steeping varies from one type, quantity and flush of the Darjeeling tea to the other. You will know the right time only after trial and experiment. Darjeeling tea is best enjoyed when served without milk and sugar. You may add a few drops of lime juice to add a citrus flavor to it. Adding lime juice may change the color of the tea a little bit, but that doesn’t affect the flavor, aroma, taste and quality of the Darjeeling tea.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Drink Darjeeling Tea, we recommend you visit our Food & drink category.
