Margaret's Hope 2nd Flush SFTGFOP

Margaret’s Hope
Type; Black, India, Darjeeling, SFTGFOP, 2^nd Flush

Price; £ 2.60 for 50 grams from Anteaques.

http://anteaques.co.uk/blacktea/margaretshope

“The teas of the Darjeeling region are often known as the "champagne of teas". They are prized for their lighter tastes and fruity aromas. The Margaret's Hope Estate is over 140 years old and produces some of the most popular Darjeeling teas. This tea is picked in early June (2nd flush) and has all the wonderful Darjeeling flavours.

Classified as "Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe" (or FTGFOP), this tea is a top grade Orange Pekoe or large leaf tea. Like many other estates in Darjeeling, Margaret's Hope's tea bushes grow slowly due to the high altitude. This plays a large part in producing the tea's characteristic and highly prized taste.”

Review; Ah Darjeelings. One of my true loves. The observant reader will probably have noted that I have an obsession with Darjeelings. Those that know me in real life know that I will do almost anything to get my hands on a delicious first flush. The Margaret’s Hope is a second flush, and will probably receive more of a scathing review than the previous two other Darjeelings reviewed.

Margaret’s Hope has a name for itself. Name-branding isn’t unique to clothing, and occurs very frequently in the tea world. Lets face it, this tea blog is about name-brands. Margaret’s Hope due to recent acquisitions of nearby tea-estates is now one of the largest tea estate in the Darjeeling region of India. And for such a surprisingly large area, it is blended (all teas are blended in the estates) consistent. 2^nd Flush, strong muscatel notes on the nose, but surprisingly little flavour to compare with the taste. A beautiful tea in its own, but branding itself as the “Champagne of teas” I would not say is truthful.

Really one cup or so of Margaret’s Hope will due it justice. A bit of a plane jane if you will in that no complex taste really develops, nowhere to go after that initial first sip. And don’t add milk or sugar! It’s a Darjeeling! Not an Assam or some Tetley tea bag for pete’s sake. I have now tasted the Margaret’s Hope for four years and as I said above, it is consistent. There is little variability in it unlike other Darjeelings (I’m looking at you Goomtee, oh you were so delicious last year…and surprisingly disappointing this year).

Enjoy!

-Tea Fan