PAN FIRED DARJEELING GREEN TEA - NAGRI FARM - 2nd flush
(India Green Tea)
Country of Origin: India
Region: Darjeeling
Shipping Port: Calcutta
Grade: TGFOP1 (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe #1)
Altitude: 3000 - 4600 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Pan Fired Orthodox Green Tea
Cup Characteristics: Tending delicate, light liquoring with notes of muscatel, pungent (full body- typical of 2nd flush)
Infusion: Tending bright, green, typical infusion of a well made green tea
Ingredients: Premium green tea.
Information:
In the production of green tea the new leaves are hand plucked and
immediately taken to the factory where they are slowly withered to
reduce their water content. The leaves are not allowed to ferment and
immediately go to the rolling process where the shape of the leaf is
achieved. Following this they are pan fired which locks in the flavor.
You can see that these teas are machined rolled since the leaf
appearance is somewhat mixed and the final product has not been hand
sorted (which would result in whole leaf and buds appearing). The
pan-fired tea has more body than the steamed green Darjeeling because
during the rolling stage a small amount of fermentation does occur -
hence the slightly extra body.
Nagri Farm is a tea estate in the Darjeeling region. Prior to the 1800’s
Nagri Farm, due to its prominent location where it has a commanding
view of the surrounding plains, was a fortified (fort) location with a
local garrison. There were occasional skirmishes between local tribes
people and ‘outsiders’ from Nepal, Tibet and warring Maharajahs. Later
the fort became a dairy farm using the old fort buildings. In the 1880’s
use of the farm changed when tea was planted - hence the name of the
estate.
The estate is divided into 34 sections. Section 1-5 are bushes that were
planted prior to 1883 and section 6-12 were replanted in 1883. Sections
13-34 were subsequently planted over the intervening years.
Interestingly these old bushes have a very unique shape - almost bonsai
like. Despite the fact that these bushes are extremely hardy, the yield
is low. The estate covers 286 hectare (726 acres) and the average yield
is 600 pounds per acre - compare this to an estate in Assam (called
Keyhung with young bushes) which has a yield of 2000 pounds per acre.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used
repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about
180’F or 80’C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup let the tea steep for about 3
minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove
the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water,
and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at
the pattern of the leaves in the brew, not only do they foretell your
fortune but you can see the bud and shoots presenting themselves,
begging you to add more water to savor the flavor.
Alternatively as with all top quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons into the
teapot, pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn (previously
boiled water has lost most of its oxygen and therefore tends to be flat
tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually all the
leaves will sink), pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since
green tea is enjoyed ‘straight-up’.