Description
Picture the scene: as the first spring rains spread across the Himalayan foothills, the Darjeeling tea gardens start to turn green in a flush of colour the earliest harvest of the year is referred to as the First Flush' and is considered one of the finest teas to be produced worldwide. Founded in 1865, Margaret's Hope Estate was originally known as Bara Ringtong' (the name of the two rivers which run through the estate), but in 1927 the estate's founder Mr Cruikshank changed the name in honour of his youngest daughter. Margaret had fallen in love with Darjeeling on her very first visit and vowed to make the tea garden her home but her first visit was fated to be her last. The name of the tea garden is a poignant reminder of his daughter's hope to return to the land she loved; she died of a tropical illness on the long journey back to England. Today her memory is kept alive by the estate's world-famous First Flush, consistently excellent year after year. The tea is cultivated at altitudes of 915-1830m, primarily from the original China Jat bushes which would have been growing in Margaret's day. A good First Flush all depends on the level of rain that spring; a flood or drought can destroy the crop, so you can never be sure how the tea will turn out. When news came of this year's First Flush, picked in early April, we were all on tenterhooks as we waited for the first tasting We weren't disappointed in fact, we were frankly bowled over by the results. As we'd expect from such a superior estate, this year's First Flush has the fresh, effervescent quality that many compare to champagne, with the pungent fruity fragrance of a fine muscatel wine and a lovely golden colour to the cup. You might like to compare it to this year's First Flush from Badamtam Estate you'll be able to distinguish the two by the new hay sweetness and slight spiciness of the Margaret's Hope variety, while Badamtam has clear floral tones with a refreshingly brisk finish.