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Darjeeling First Flush

8.9/10 editor's score

The first spring picking from the Himalayan foothills: light, floral and bright, with green grape and citrus. Lightly oxidised for a black tea, and best without milk.

Spring flushGI protectedNo milk
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Darjeeling First Flush, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafDarjeeling First Flush
200 ml water85 to 90°C
Steep 2:303 steeps
LiquorPale gold to light amber, bright and clear
Served inTeapot and cup

At a glance

The first spring picking from the Himalayan foothills: light, floral and bright, with green grape and citrus.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg a cup
Beginner fit7.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestMarch to AprilTender first growth after winter. Light, floral and pale. The most prized lots come early.
Pairs withCucumber or egg sandwiches, Scones and shortbread, Fresh goat's cheese, Lemon tart, melon, stone fruitLess good with heavy chilli and strong curry, smoked meats, very sweet desserts
Grown atAbout 600 to 2,000 mDarjeeling, West Bengal
Served inTeapot and cupA general choice

About Darjeeling First Flush

What sources say about the taste

Published tasting notes describe a good first flush as smelling like a spring garden: flowers, green fruit and a little citrus. The cup is light-bodied with a clean, brisk finish that can turn drying if over-brewed.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

DarjeelingWest BengalINDIA
Region
Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, West Bengal
Elevation
About 600 to 2,000 m 1
Gardens
87 registered estates 1
Protection
India's first GI product (2004), EU PGI since 2011 23

More from Darjeeling and India.

History and culture

In 1841 Archibald Campbell, the East India Company's superintendent at Darjeeling, planted Chinese tea seeds in his garden. The cool, cloudy hills suited the China plant far better than the Assam plant 1.

Commercial gardens followed from the 1850s. The "Champagne of teas" nickname brought a problem: far more tea was sold as Darjeeling than the hills could grow. The Tea Board of India created the Darjeeling logo in 1983, and in 2004 Darjeeling became India's first product with Geographical Indication protection 12.

Editor's score

8.9/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 9.5Origin & heritage: 10.0Availability: 8.5Value: 8.5Beginner-friendliness: 7.5Versatility: 8.0Flavour 9.5Heritage 10.0Availability 8.5Value 8.5Beginners 7.5Versatility 8.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Darjeeling First Flush~30 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

The first flush range is our estimate: it brews cooler and shorter than most black tea, and caffeine varies with leaf, water and time. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Darjeeling picks from March to November in four main flushes. Dates move a little each year with the weather 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Darjeeling is mostly Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, the small-leaf China plant 1.

Gardens mix old "China jat" bushes grown from seed with clonal bushes grown from cuttings. Clonals such as AV2 are often greener and more floral in first flush 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

Two leaves and a bud, by hand.

02Withering

A long, hard wither indoors removes much of the water.

03Rolling

Gentle rolling bruises the leaf.

04Oxidation

Short for first flush, so the leaf stays partly green.

05Drying

Fired until dry and shelf-stable.

06Sorting

Graded by leaf size, then sold at auction or privately.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafWiry and twisted, a mix of green and brown with silvery tips.
LiquorPale gold to light amber, bright and clear.
After steeping
Wet leafOpens green to olive and smells fresh and floral.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Cucumber or egg sandwiches
  • Scones and shortbread
  • Fresh goat's cheese
  • Lemon tart, melon, stone fruit

Best avoided

  • Heavy chilli and strong curry
  • Smoked meats
  • Very sweet desserts

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Darjeeling uses the orthodox leaf grades. FTGFOP1 (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) is a common top whole-leaf grade, SFTGFOP1 an extra selection. Grades describe leaf size and look, not flavour 4.

Estates also mark lots with invoice numbers such as DJ-1, the first lot of the season.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Look for the Darjeeling logo and an estate name, flush and year 2.
  2. "Darjeeling blend" can contain other teas.
  3. Cheap "first flush" all year round is a warning sign.
  4. The dry leaf should look mixed green and brown, not uniformly black.
FAQ
Is Darjeeling First Flush a black tea?

It is sold as black tea, but it is only lightly oxidised, so it looks and tastes closer to a green tea or light oolong than a typical black tea.

Should I add milk?

Usually not. The flavour is delicate and milk hides it. Assam is a better milk tea.

When does new first flush reach shops?

Picking starts around March, and fresh lots usually reach US and UK shops from April to June.

First flush or second flush?

First flush is lighter and more floral. Second flush is fuller and darker, with the classic muscatel note.

Find it inBlack teasTeas from IndiaDarjeelingSpring flushGI protectedNo milk

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Darjeeling tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_tea
  2. Tea Board of India, Darjeeling tea and logo. www.teaboard.gov.in
  3. European Commission, eAmbrosia GI register. ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eambrosia/geographical-indications-register/
  4. Wikipedia, "Tea leaf grading". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_leaf_grading
  5. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.