What is Makaibari black tea?
The Makaibari garden, whose name means “cornfield” in Nepali, lies on the slopes of the Himalayas, on the road to Bhutan and Tibet: its eponymous black tea has been cultivated there with care and passion since 1859. In this lush region of India, fauna and flora live in harmony and contribute to the excellent quality of the soil in which the tea plants grow. The result: a tea with a unique flavour, renowned worldwide.
A renowned Darjeeling tea
The Makaibari black teais a certified Darjeeling tea. It comes from the area covered by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of Darjeeling and complies with specific specifications. This PGI, unique in the world of tea, has been recognised by the European Union since 2011. Beyond the sublime taste of its tea, the Makaibari garden also stands out for its unique approach to protecting local biodiversity.
Makaibari: Darjeeling tea plantations, and much more besides!
This garden has been run since the 1970s by Swaraj Kumar Banerjee, better known as Rajah. This planter and researcher devoted his entire life to preserving and improving the soil. Rajah wishes to safeguard the diversity of local flora and fauna. Thus, not all 650 hectares of the garden are devoted to monoculture of Darjeeling tea. Part is reserved for the forest and its riches. It is home to many species, including Bengal tigers, leopards, monkeys and birds such as the striking Great Hornbill. Protected and respectful of biodiversity, the Makaibari tea has it all! So you can savour this delicate black tea without any “aftertaste” or “bitterness”.
Darjeeling tea: an exceptional Indian tea
The Makaibari tea is the cream of the crop of Darjeeling teas. This tea family is renowned worldwide for its incredible quality.
Why is this Indian tea so precious?
With its unique, refined flavour, Darjeeling is the crème de la crème of black teas. Like sparkling wine, Darjeeling tea also benefits from a protected designation. Therefore, only teas from this region can be considered Darjeeling. By the way, which Darjeeling tea is the most renowned?
The "First Flush" harvest
First Flush is the “first flowering” of Darjeeling tea plants. Each year, this first harvest takes place when temperatures rise and days grow longer, after the tea plants have lain dormant for five months. The very first shoots are then carefully hand-picked to offer a light, delicately fragrant tea. A true delight!
SFTGFOP: Darjeeling tea, a graded tea
“Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”. This acronym indicates the fineness of the plucking. Put simply: the more letters there are, the more exceptional the leaf. For the record, the letters refer to adjectives; in English, these are called grades. Of outstanding quality, the SFTGFOP grade is normally reserved for the finest first-harvest Darjeeling teas. We warned you, you are dealing with a great one! And to enjoy it, it should be prepared to perfection…
How do you prepare Darjeeling Indian tea?
Darjeeling black tea is made exclusively from the young shoots at the tip of the tea plant: the bud and the two finest leaves. Its preparation therefore requires gentleness, allowing its precious leaves to release their aromas with great delicacy.
Brewing temperature and time for Darjeeling tea
Each tea has its own brewing temperature and time. The quality of the infusion depends on the water temperature. Too cold? Darjeeling tea will not brew properly. In other words, the tea will not release its compounds, aromas and flavours.
Too hot? You risk spoiling the flavour of this rare tea. Excessively high temperatures can indeed intensify the tea’s bitterness and astringency.
Keep a close eye on your watch or set a timer, as the brewing time is just as crucial. Brewing time is key for Darjeeling tea to reveal all its qualities.
Purists and masters of detail, discover how to prepare your Darjeeling tea to perfection (using 6 to 8 g of tea in 30 cl):
- Spring Darjeeling: water at 85°C; brew for 3 min 30 to 3 min 45.
- Darjeeling Grand Crus from other seasons: water at 85°C; brew for 3 min 45 to 4 min.
- Darjeeling from other harvests and seasons : water at 90°C; brew for 4 to 5 min.
As you will have gathered, Makaibari Darjeeling has it all. So much so that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some to Queen Elizabeth of England. A gift of great value, for what is rare is precious…