Peachy's Pantry: No. 47 Bungalow Full Leaf Black Tea by Steven Smith Highly Recommended by Whom You Know
Bungalow: A blend of first and second flush Darjeeling teas with the aroma and taste of nuts, fruits and flowers. Steven Smith is among our most favorite teamakers, and we love that it is actually Steven that answers Peachy's emails. First flush is the first harvest of the season and the leaves are at their most tender. First flush tea is highly floral, slightly bitey and green and imparts a fresh flavor to the blend. It is a ripe blend bursting with flavor, and it is what Peachy Deegan is drinking right this very minute! And she is glad she wasn't the one that had to go to the Himalayas to get it....
Second flush is more fully rounded with buttery and nutty notes. The blend is light in the cup but deceptively full flavored with light toasty and floral notes. Steven Smith makes the most beautiful tea bags-they look like sachets as opposed to something with the texture of a hospital dressing gown - which is what some other teamakers can choose to present their tea in...! Black Teas are made from the top two leaves and bud of the plant Camellia Sinsesis. The leaves are plucked by hand, then allowed to partially dry in elevated racks in a process known as withering. After withering, the leaves are mechanically rolled and during this process cells in the leaf are crushed and leaf is saturated with a natural enzyme that starts the fermentation process.
This process also known as oxidation turns the leaf a coppery color and begins the development of the darker more tannic flavor and aroma of black teas. The tea is then dried and graded according to leaf size. Steven told Peachy that most of his black teas come from India, Sri Lanka and China. Bungalow is simply wonderful and will put the perfect amount of cheer in your February!
