2023 Thurbo Darjeeling First Flush Tea

Thurbo sits among the largest estates in Darjeeling, spread across high ground in Mirik between 2,500 and 6,200 feet, hemmed in by the Gopaldhara garden and the Runbong and Mechi rivers. This first flush comes from the 2023 harvest: a neat green leaf with some tip that pours a bright orange cup. The liquor carries orange and peach against a base of honey, with a thick, well-rounded body rather than a thin, brisk one. The estate dates to 1872 and now belongs to the Goodricke Group, which also runs Margaret's Hope and Castleton — company among the most respected names in Darjeeling. The name Thurbo comes from the Nepali "Tombu," meaning tent, after British forces camped in the area during fighting with Nepal in 1870. The leaf is still grown and processed under experienced hands using traditional methods, which is a large part of why the region's first flush teas carry the reputation they do. Steep it for about two and a half minutes in 237ml (8oz) of water just off the boil. Push it shorter for a lighter cup, or add a little more water after steeping if the first pour comes out stronger than you'd like. Like most Darjeeling black teas, it carries caffeine, and it has long been drunk as a calming, digestion-easing cup — worth keeping to gentle tradition rather than promise.