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Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling
Estate Tea 50g
GRADE – TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
CAFFEINE/ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Medium/Very High
Cup characteristics: A delicate tending astringent cup with the distinctive “Muscatel” character. Hints of create an almost wine-like taste.
Luxury ingredients: Black tea.
£ 6.50
In stock
PRODUCT ID: 1625
Description
Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling
A Touching History
Margaret’s Hope tea garden has a poignant story dating back to the 1930s. It was owned by Mr. Bagdon, who lived in London but regularly visited his estate. His younger daughter, Margaret, fell in love with the garden, dreaming of returning one day. Tragically, she fell ill during her return voyage to England and passed away shortly after. In her memory, her father renamed the garden Margaret’s Hope. Legend has it that her spirit visits the estate bungalow, moving through the main guestroom and out to the tennis courts.
Unique Characteristics
The tea bushes at Margaret’s Hope are predominantly of the Chinese Jat variety, which contributes to the green, tippy appearance of the leaves and their superb fragrance. Due to the high altitude and cooler climate, the bushes grow slowly, resulting in limited production but exceptional quality.
Flavour Profiles
The best time to enjoy Margaret’s Hope tea is during the “second flush,” which runs from late May to the end of June. During this period, Darjeeling teas are incomparable. Some describe the flavor as nutty, while others liken it to black currants. Most commonly, it evokes the taste and fragrance of muscat grapes.
Harvest Seasons
There are three main harvest seasons for high-quality Darjeeling:
- 1st Flush: Harvested from late February to mid-April, these teas are light and intense, with a muscatel note, making them a gentle afternoon option.
- 2nd Flush: Harvested in June, these teas are fully developed. The liquor is bright, and the taste is full and round, featuring excellent muscatel notes. This superb afternoon tea pairs wonderfully with scones and raspberry conserve.
- Autumnal: These teas, when available, offer a round taste and coppery liquor, making them excellent as a breakfast tea.
Experience the delicate yet pleasantly astringent cup of Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling. Each sip invites you to savor its rich history and unique flavour profile, making it a delightful addition to your tea collection. Enjoy the essence of this extraordinary garden!
HOT BREWING METHOD:
Put 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 7-9oz / 200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 1-3 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Add milk & sugar to taste. Ideal Brewing Temperature:90ºC/194ºF
ICED TEA BREWING METHOD
(Pitcher): (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher, straining the tea. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing freshly brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.)
We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today’s water has been known to carry viruses, parasites and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illnesses.
