Advent Day #16

Tea #16 - Darjeeling FTGFOP

“The ‘champagne of teas’, harvested from the foothills of the Himalayas, is one of the world’s highest-grown teas, delivering a subtle Muscatel taste.”

Ok, first question: what does FTGFOP stand for? Answer: Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe 

Next question: what is ‘muscatel’? My cursory google search tells me that it is a blackcurrant. 

And, lastly, what makes this the ‘champagne of teas’? It is the highest-grade tea that you can buy.

Now a little over two weeks into our tea advent calendar, I am firmly in a routine. I will not reiterate the litany, other than to say that I chose sugar and milk for this cup, as it was “allowed”. Darjeeling tea is known for its inherently floral overtones, and this one did not disappoint. There is an initial burst at the back of the mouth when taking the sip. And, after the swallow, a very sweet albeit pleasant aftertaste lingers on the palate.

What is lacking is the strong tea taste that one would expect from the ‘champagne of teas.’ When I drink a cup of tea, especially in the morning to wake me up, I want to feel like I have had a strong cup of tea. It wasn’t until the very end of the cup that I got a tea vibe from my morning beverage. There were not the fruity notes that I was promised from the description, either.

I will say that, from looking at the silky bag and examining the leaves contained within, I do understand why this is called the crème de la crème of teas. The integrity of each leaf is discernible, and the diversity of composition is obvious. By looking at the bag, it looks rich. However, looks alone do not make a tea top notch. I would rate this one a 6/10—drinkable but not special. Certainly not the best Fortnum & Mason has to offer.