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(Editor's note: This article was written in May 1999, but due to an oversight is just being published now. Apologies!)

Darjeeling First Flush 1999

With its green hills, fresh clean air and temperate weather, Darjeeling is a PARADISE ON EARTH. The tea industry in Darjeeling is very dependent on the weather conditions and is affected by any change in the timely arrival of rains to the region. During winter, the tea gardens go through a period of dormancy due to cold weather. The tea bushes are pruned immediately before the onset of winter. A normal winter period is from December to February. The month of March brings the first batch of showers and the tea bushes produce a new growth of leaf---the first flush. The telltale greenish look of this leaf is indicative of a good First Flush. The tea is delicate and light, very aromatic and, of course, has a superb flavor. THIS YEAR, i.e. 1999, the First Flush season got off to a bad start: the spring rains came late. Too late to produce a significantly worthwhile First Flush for 1999. As the season progresses, Second Flush Darjeeling is coming in and value based on quality will be reflected in market prices. Some of these Second Flush Darjeeling prices may be high and only time will tell if they will be worth the asking price.

The Tea Shop still has a good supply of vintage 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998 Darjeeling’s representing 1^st, 2^nd, and Autumnal plucks from those years.

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Copyright © November 1999