The tea estate, under the expertise and foresightedness of Mr. Shiv Saria, has been reputed to produce the best of teas and the rarer ones, thus contributing to the popularity of Darjeeling Tea in the global market. The most popular among the tea lovers of Darjeeling Tea Boutique, from this garden happens to be the Silver needles white tea and the widely popular and still in demand green tea, famed for its very slight hint of fruitiness.(This green tea has just got out of stock)
This pearl tea got from Gopaldhara intrigued me at first. Unevenly rounded, brownish balls, the size of marbles, oblate spheroid (recalling some terms learnt years back) justifiably jarring to a person whose has had a cupboard full of the just exhausted Pearl Teas from Avongrove T. E.
The aromas were appealing though and I brewed the pearls, three to be precise, in a cup full of water for four full minutes. Amazing results awaited, with a faint light coppery liquor, a bit of woodiness. I gave half a cup to my wife, who has been of good help in discerning the flavours of all the teas. "Woody?!" That what she said first, hiding a mixed feeling that resulted due to a trailing fruitiness. "A good taste for green tea lovers," she added. It was certainly a change in taste for her after the usual green teas that she enjoys.
Since then, I have infused the same pearls for a fifth time with equally good results. And yes, the leaved pearls opened fully only after the fifth infusion. Addicted, would be the correct term to describe the effect I have had from this wonderful product, but no Mr Saria, it's been enough for the day, enough for my bladder since I've visited a good number of times to the loo.
The sixth infusion awaits.
It's definitely a good replacement, a better one to be precise, to the recently exhausted green tea from the popular Gopaldhara.
Brewing co-ordinates for Darjeeling Tea (Pearl) from Gopaldhara T. E.
Water Temperature: less than 70c approx
Brewed three pearls for a cup for 4 minutes. (5 minutes for the second, third, and the fourth infusion, and 10 minutes for the fifth)
Brewing co-ordinates for Darjeeling Tea (Green) from Rohini T. E.
Water temperature: less than 70c approx
Brewed a spoonful for a cup for 2 & 1/2 minutes. (Second infusion had similar results)