Arya Ruby: Darjeeling 1st Flush 2008.

Next up in this week-long Darjeeling festival: Arya Estate’s Ruby 2008 1st flush. This is among the most visually appealing teas I have ever had the privilege of enjoying.

In its dry state, the Ruby is a blend of earthy browns and cream-coloured buds. Once steeped, the leaves unfurl into large, mostly unbroken leaves – testifying to the pain-staking effort and finesse of the tea workers at Arya Estate.

A tea cannot, of course, be judged only on looks. But the Arya Ruby qualifies its stunning appearance with a captivating flavour profile.

Again, I have Jo from Ya-ya Teahouse to thank for this wonderful tea. As with the Puttabong Clonal Exclusive I wrote about yesterday, his brewing recommendations were on the generous side: 4.5 teaspoons per 500 mil, infused for 3.5 minutes. That’s a high tea-to-water ratio, but it works splendidly. The tea brews quickly into a sharp, copper-coloured soup (to borrow a term from Hobbes).

Rich and velvety smooth, the Arya Ruby is very easy to enjoy while rewarding closer examination. It took me a few tastes before I caught the sudden burst of citrus at the tail-end, leaving the mouth with a pleasant tangy note. Like the Puttabong, the Arya Ruby is savoury with a touch of astringency, though it’s less astringent than the former.

At $54.80 NZD for 100 grams (from Ya-ya Teahouse), this isn’t a cheap tea. But it really sets the bar in terms of first flush Darjeeling teas. If you’re after the best of the best, go no further.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Arya Ruby: Darjeeling 1st Flush 2008 | 4 comments |
Post categories: Black tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: Arya Estate, Darjeeling, Indian teas, Ya-ya Teahouse