Best Darjeeling Tea in 2026: A Comprehensive Tea Lover’s Guide

Darjeeling tea is often called the champagne of tea, and for good reason. It stands out with its delicate floral aromas, sweet muscatel flavors, and light-bodied taste. Grown high in the Himalayan foothills of the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, the tea bushes produce fragrant leaves with a distinct character.

When choosing the top Darjeeling teas, it's important to consider where the tea was grown and when it was picked. Some people prefer the first flush Darjeeling because it has a lovely fresh, bright aroma and floral, fruity, nutty notes.

We looked at the top four Darjeeling teas from two well known brands and choosing the teas with the best customer reviews, were consistently good quality and available to buy in the United States. We also looked at a multiple factors such as the aroma, flavor, muscatel notes and overall quality, as well as the reputation of each brand.

Darjeeling tea comes from the tea leaves grown high up in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. Thanks to the cool mountain air and unique climate, these tea bushes develop a wonderful flavor with delicate floral aromas, a bright, refreshing character, and muscatel notes.

The time of year that the tea is picked can make a big difference in how the flavors turn out. The first flush tends to be light, with floral notes and a little vegetal taste. The second flush has a richer, fruitier taste with stronger muscatel notes and a sweet, grapey finish.

A lot of tea lovers prefer the first flush because they believe it's the best due to its freshness with a delicate flavor that stands out from all the other teas. But the second flush is also special because it got a stronger body, a sweeter flavor and a lovely long finish.

One thing to keep in mind: Darjeeling tea is the only tea protected by a Geographical Indication (GI) trademark. This means that only the tea grown in specific tea estates within the designated parts of India can be labeled as Darjeeling, protecting the authenticity and top-notch quality of Darjeeling tea leaves.

Darjeeling is best known for its black tea, but it also produces some other interesting teas such as green tea, white tea and oolong tea. Each one of these teas has its own unique flavor, shaped by the Himalayan climate of West Bengal. 

Darjeeling tea is made with the same Chinese variety that's used for most other tea, the Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which is pretty crucial in giving it that distinctive taste.

Each type of Darjeeling tea needs a slightly different brewing temperature and steeping time to bring out its full flavor and aroma.

• Black Darjeeling Tea: This is the classic choice - made from leaves picked at different times of the year (first flush, second flush, autumn). The leaves get oxidized to varying degrees, which gives out a smooth cup with those signature muscatel and floral notes. Whole leaf teas can be pretty complex, while the broken leaf grades brew a stronger cup, often found in tea bags. Some of the black Darjeeling teas can have a slightly astringent taste, which adds a refreshing crispness to the cup.

• Green Darjeeling Tea: this tea hasn't been oxidized enough to give it a light color and taste, with beautiful fresh, grassy aromas coming through and a hint of gentle astringency. Perfect for those who prefer a lighter, more vegetal cup, with all the fresh grassy notes expected from a first flush.

• White Darjeeling Tea: The young buds and minimalist processing give this final brew a very pale tea that's packed full of subtle floral sweetness. It's perfect for those who want a delicate, elegant cup, with all the sweetness and floral flavors.

• Oolong Darjeeling Tea: This one falls somewhere in between the extremes of black and green tea, as its been partially oxidized to give it a more complex cup with a mix of floral, fruity and nutty notes all at once. Perfect for those who want a tea that's a bit more interesting than your average black bud.

Brand overview: Harney & Sons is a well known name in the tea world, renowned for their heritage-driven approach to tea sourcing and for preserving the authentic regional character of the teas they source.

Flavor and experience: Harney & Sons Darjeeling tea takes the best out of the first flush and autumnal harvests and blends them in a delicate floral aroma with a hint of pineapple and sweeter stone fruit. The flavor is citrus, apricot and classic muscatel with a silky smooth texture. It finishes nice and sweet, with a gentle floral echo and with the classic Darjeeling crispness.

Brewing & Serving: To brew Harney & Sons Darjeeling, use one teaspoon of loose leaf in 8 oz (240 ml) of water heated to between 190-200°F (88-93°C) for 3-4 minutes. The leaves will infuse into a soft golden color and release all those lovely muscatel, floral and fruit notes. Enjoyed on its own, Harney & Sons Darjeeling lets you taste the nuanced sweetness and refined citrus-fruit balance, making it a pretty great choice for a relaxed afternoon sipping session.

Brand overview: Plum Deluxe is a modern tea company that makes its teas in small batches while focusing on getting the right quality and freshness. They carefully source their teas to bring out natural flavors and create unique, enjoyable blends.

Flavor and experience: The Heritage Blend combines Darjeeling, Assam, and African black teas to create a smooth, aromatic, and well-balanced tea. The Assam gives out caramel, wood, and walnut flavors, while Darjeeling adds soft fruit and floral balance.

Brewing & Serving: For Plum Deluxe Heritage Blend Black Tea, use a teaspoon of loose leaf in 8 oz (240 ml) of water heated to 205°F (96°C) and steep for 3-5 minutes. As the tea brews, it settles to a medium brown color, releasing sweet and malty warmth with a bit of floral complexity. The cup stays smooth, aromatic and balanced, perfect for a relaxing afternoon.

Flavor and experience: Viennese Earl Grey is a silky smooth, aromatic cup that's a bit lighter than a traditional Earl Grey but has a depth of character and flavor that really sets it apart. The finish is long and smooth, with a nice citrusy zing to it - and just a hint of sophistication that'll keep you coming back for more.

Brewing & Serving: Prepare your Harney & Sons Viennese Earl Grey by placing one sachet or a teaspoon of loose leaf into 8 oz of boiling water (240 ml) at 205 F (96°C). Let it steep for 4-5 minutes. As it brews, the aroma really starts to come alive with all the lovely citrus and floral notes. The taste is nice and bright, with plenty of citrus coming through but not overpowering the other flavors.

Flavor and experience: Indian Nimbu is a beautiful blend of sweet caramel and bright citrus, with a bit of muscatel from the Darjeeling base. It's smooth, elegant and just the right amount of aromatic - a great balance of freshness, floral lift and mellow sweetness that just lingers on the palate.

Brewing & Serving: When you're brewing Harney & Sons Indian Nimbu, use one sachet or a teaspoon of loose leaf tea in 8 oz (240 ml) of hot water at 205 F (96°C) and brew for 4-5 minutes. As the tea brews, it turns to a lovely medium brown with a warm reddish tint, releasing all the lovely caramel sweetness and citrus fragrance. The cup tastes bright, mellow and lightly sweet, with an expressive, aromatic finish that'll keep you coming back for more.

To get the most out of drinking Darjeeling tea, start by using high quality water and pay real attention to the brewing temperature. You can use tea bags if you want convenience, or go for the loose leaf experience, if you're after a more authentic feeling.

Loose leaf Darjeeling, particularly the first flush leaves, is prized for its light, delicate flavor. When brewing first flush teas, be careful not to steep them for too long, as that can make them taste bitter. On the other hand, second flush teas are a bit more robust and can handle a longer steep without falling apart

First flush Darjeeling is best on its own to let its lovely fresh notes shine right through. Second flush teas are a lot richer and more fruity and a slightly longer steep will bring out its deeper, more complex flavors. As a rough guide, steep for 3 to 5 minutes or so, but make adjustments depending on how delicate the tea is.

Some people prefer Darjeeling on its own, while others like to add a bit of milk or a spoonful of sugar to highlight its natural sweetness. At the end of the day, the perfect cup is the one that suits your taste.

Darjeeling tea has a delicate floral taste and sweet muscatel taste that makes it stand out from the other teas. Whether it's the first flush or the second flush, each one is unique and has its own special experience and taste

Take a look at the Darjeeling teas in Taste of Tea and find your perfect cup.

Just remember, the best Darjeeling tea is pure Darjeeling tea from a reputable estate, ideally organic and fresh leaves, that way you can be fairly sure you get a good quality tea every time.

Behind the Cup

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