Darjeeling Autumnal Black Tea
Coppery, mellow and gently muscatel: the last picking of the Darjeeling year.
Darjeeling autumnal flush is the last picking of the year, made in October and November. The cup is coppery to deep red, with a soft muscatel note, toasty sweetness and a fuller body. Brewed in a teapot at 90°C.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 46 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 19.2 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
Related reading
| Brewing method | Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Whole Leaf or Broken Leaf |
| Water temperature | 194°F / 90°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf black tea
- 240 g filtered water at 90°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 2.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 90°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 3:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 46 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Steep a little longer
The autumnal flush is softer than the earlier pickings, so it can take the longer end of the steep. If the first cup tastes thin, give it another 30 seconds.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Darjeeling autumnal flush is the last picking of the year, made in October and November. The cup is coppery to deep red, with a soft muscatel note, toasty sweetness and a fuller body. Brewed in a teapot at 90°C.
Origin & Story
The autumnal flush closes the Darjeeling year. It is picked in October and November, once the monsoon flush is over and the cool, dry winter months are close, and it is the last tea the estates make before the bushes rest.
Descriptions of the autumn cup vary with the garden and the writer. They cluster around a coppery to deep red liquor, a soft muscatel note and a toasty, nutty or caramel sweetness, with a body that runs from mellow to robust. Some tasters find it milder than the second flush and others find it fuller, which makes it worth tasting side by side with a summer tea from the same estate.
Darjeeling is a small producer. Estates in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong made about 7 million kilograms of tea in 2021, roughly half a percent of India's total. Tea sold as genuine Darjeeling carries a logo owned by the Tea Board of India, a woman's profile holding two leaves and a bud.
For a cup, use water at about 90°C and 3 g of leaf per 240 ml, and let it steep for three to four minutes. If the first cup tastes thin, add 30 seconds before you reach for more leaf.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 78/100 |
| Acidity | 62/100 |
| Bitterness | 38/100 |
| Body | 64/100 |
| Aroma | 94/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Darjeeling Autumnal Black Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 46 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Darjeeling Autumnal Black Tea?
Target 90°C (194°F).
How long should Darjeeling Autumnal Black Tea be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-4:00. Method: Teapot. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Whole Leaf or Broken Leaf.
When is the autumnal flush picked?
In October and November, after the monsoon flush. Tasters describe a coppery to deep red cup with a soft muscatel note.
How can I tell genuine Darjeeling tea?
Look for the Darjeeling logo, a woman's profile holding two leaves and a bud, which the Tea Board of India owns. The name is also protected as a geographical indication.
Who should avoid Darjeeling Autumnal Black Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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