Risheehat (flowery) second flush

This mornings tea was the Risheehat (flowery), second flush. Like all the good Darjeeling teas, it is nice and smooth, and doesn't need milk. Because it's a second flush tea, it's a bit darker than the first flush, and a bit sweeter. The term "flowery" must refer to the mild hint of jasmine, or something floral, that is lurking in the flavor. It brews into a nice burnt orange color, and it possesses a slightly complex aroma. I don't have the most sophisticated palate, otherwise I would try to give you an in depth description of the smell, but take my word for it; it smells great. Take a look at the picture above. It's not the best picture. but you can see how some of the leaves are a distinctly more orange, or brown, or green in color. That's how the aroma comes off.

I think that this tea is a little bit hard to come by at this point, because the Risheehat estate didn't produce much of it. That seems to be the story with a number of Darjeeling teas this year, thanks to the dry winter. I understand that the crops are rebounding somewhat, but that the harvest is still not what it needs to be.