A thé (tea) for any hour of the day.

Described as the champagne of teas, mention darjeeling whether it’s first, second or autumnal flush, and those who know tea will concur, it’s hard to go wrong with a darjeeling.

Now, up until last fall, I didn’t realize what I was missing out on. But as soon as I had my first second flush darjeeling, served and enjoyed during an Afternoon Tea service at The Ritz in London with TOP Tier Members, I immediately wanted to bring a varietal into my home to enjoy regularly.

While a black tea, Darjeelings are softer, and less bitter (if bitter at all) which is the reason for the oft stated moniker – the Champagne of teas. Produced in the Darjeeling region in West Bengal, India, the flush communicates when the tea leaves were harvested. The earliest flush (first) takes place in spring, the second in early summer which makes for a far more mild tea, and the final, autumn, reveals the timing of its collection.

Grown in the high altitudes of the Himalayas (at least 4000 feet in altitude or higher), this contributes greatly to the unique and trusted flavor.

From descriptors of delicate, gentle, and fine, whether you are new to teas or a connoisseur, a Darjeeling is one to try or return to as a wonderful luxury to encourage you to slow down and savor.

My new favorite afternoon tea varietal. Add the afternoon sunshine, pups to snuggle with, and this is an ideal most of respite in the day.

The second flush Darjeelings are very hard to find as often it is the first flushes that are most common. So after much searching and returning to trusted sources in France, I found a Darjeeling that combines all three flushes – first, second and autumn – at the beloved house of tea, Mariage Frères. Darjeeling Master.

Arriving last week from France in loose leaf form, upon the first sip, I knew I had found what I have been looking for for nearly a year, the Darjeeling I will continue to keep stocked in my tea cupboard.

Darjeeling Master Thé from Mariage Frères was the Petit Plaisir of episode #389, The Importance of Gratitude and Celebration throughout our Everydays and along our Life Journey of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

Explore all of TSLL’s Petits Plaisirs in the Archives