Sungma Clonal Wonders 2009, 2nd Flush Black Tea from Darjeeling
Black tea, Tea reviews
Chocolate.
That was the first thing that came to mind when I opened this packet of Sungma Clonal Wonders ‘09, a 2nd flush Darjeeling tea sent to my by Benoy of Thunderbolt Tea. I was amazed at how clear and distinct the aroma was.
That was a few weeks ago. Since then, I have been drinking this black tea on a regular basis. To me, it seems like a middle-of-the-road sort of Darjeeling tea — it exhibits some characteristic Darjeeling traits, with a few noteworthy aspects, but in some ways I come away feeling a little disappointed that it doesn’t live up to the promise offered by its aroma.
The leaves are an attractive bunch, matching the aroma. White tips are interspersed with bronzed leaves. Later, after inspecting the wet leaves, I find a few stems, but for the most part it’s a consistent batch. I am surprised though at the amount of broken leaves, something I wouldn’t expect in a tea classified as SFTGFOP1. There are a handful of full bodied leaves, but there are more broken leaves.
The liquor is a coppery orange. In characteristic Darjeeling fashion, the tea has a sharp, biting quality, like the skin of a grape. This is the point at which I find myself a little disappointed with this tea. It has the basic characteristics I’ve come to expect from a good Darjeeling, but I don’t find it exceptional. Contrast that with the Giddapahar Musk from Thunderbolt Tea I reviewed earlier this year, which was remarkable for its smoothness, depth and musky flavour. The Sungma Clonal Wonders is smooth, but I’m struggling to find as much depth in it as I did in Giddapahar Musk.
Sunga Clonal Wonders ‘09 was available from Thunderbolt Tea, but has now been sold out.
