Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling

Description

Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling

During the 1930’s this garden was owned by Mr. Bagdon who lived in London but visited regularly. His younger daughter named Margaret saw the tea garden and fell in love with it, hoping one day she would return. Sadly she fell ill on board ship during the return trip to England and died soon after. Her father changed the garden’s name to Margaret’s Hope. It is believed that she visits the estate bungalow, coming through the main guestroom and leaving from the study through the verandah to the tennis courts.

The bushes at Margaret’s Hope are almost all the Chinese Jat genus according for the green tippy appearance of the manufactured leaf and the superb fragrance. Because the tea is grown at such the high altitudes and in relatively cool weather the bushes do not grow quickly, and as such the production is limited.

The best time of the year is during “second-flush” (end May – end June). During this time Darjeeling are incomparable to any other tea in the world. Some would describe the taste as nutty, others find it reminds them of black currants, but most often it is described as similar to the taste and fragrance of muscat grapes.

The are 3 main times of year for producing good quality Darjeeling. 1st flush – springtime harvested teas from late February to mid April. The young leaves yield a light tea generally intense muscatel with “point”. A gentle afternoon tea.

2nd flush – harvested in June,  these teas are most fully developed. The liquor is bright and the taste full and round, excellent muscatel. An superb afternoon tea that is especially good with scones and raspberry conserve.

Autumnal – Not always available depending upon the weather, they are typified by a round taste and coppery liquor. Excellent as a breakfast tea. Try our Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling and enjoy a delicate tending astringent cup.