This premium green tea from Nagri Farms in Darjeeling, India, is a full bodied yet delicate, light liquoring tea with hints of Muscatel— typical of a second flush Darjeeling. The infusion is green & bright, signs of a well made green tea.
Ingredients: Artisan green tea
Origin: Darjeeling, India
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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.
Brewing Instructions
Water Temperature: 165-175
Water Quality: Best with Spring Water
Amount of Leaf (per 6 fl oz water): 1 tsp. (rounded) (2.5 grams)
Steep Time: 1.5-3 minutes
Number of Infusions: 3
Darjeeling Pan Fired Green may be prepared in a standard teapot, or in your favorite mug or lidded gaiwan. For best results, we recommend that you pre-warm your vessel, and place 2.5 grams of leaf per 6 oz of liquid, before infusing with 168-175 degree water for up to 1-3 minutes. As with all green teas, Darjeeling Pan Fired Green can be infused at least three times. Increase the time and temperature slightly with each subsequent infusion. Experimenting with your own temperatures and steeping times is encouraged, especially with such a forgiving tea. Cooler temperatures and shorter times yield more mellow, fruity elements, while hotter water and longer times produce more floral and full-bodied complexities. Always use the best-tasting water you can find, and adjust steeping times, quantity of leaves, and water temperature to your personal preferences.
We highly recommend brewing your tea in a teapot or mug with a removable infuser so that you can remove the leaves at the end of the steeping time. Whole leaf teas of this quality need room to unfurl and expand in the water in order to perform their "magic." If you don't have a removable infuser, you can brew the loose leaves directly in the pot. At the end of the steeping time, pour all of the tea into a warm serving pitcher or pot.
