Top Muscatel Darjeelings?

[spinmail]

I really like Darjeeling rich with Muscatel and some spice. Among my past faves are 2nd Flush Margaret's Hope and 2nd Flush Castleton - rich, tasty, balanced teas with a clear Muscat flavor.

I realize this isn't exactly a new thread, but there's been a new crop of tea. Is there anything that really impressed you along these lines? I'm running kind of short, and I need your input!

[spinmail]

I won't take it personally - but does anyone here have experience with current Darjeelings with lots of Muscatel flavor?

Or, better yet, what's the best place to learn about these teas?

And thanks!

[RoseWood]

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[Chip]

Where have you purchased from so far?

+1 on teaemporium though I too have never had any of their teas.

[spinmail]

Just to keep the conversation going, I have purchased my Dareeling teas from Upton, thanks to their wide selection:
http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/catalo ... egoryID=16
...though the drought has left us with less than ideal conditions.

Thunderbolt Tea has received uniformly positive reviews, if you ignore the fact that they don't have a wide selection:
http://www.thunderbolttea.com/pages/sec ... g-tea.html

I've just discovered Darjeeling Tea Express:
http://www.darjeelingteaxpress.com/samp ... -each.html
...and I like the decent prices and wide supply of samples.

[AdamMY]

Just so you feel like you aren't talking to yourself, I am reading, but I haven't tried a Darjeeling for quite a long time, and even then the ones I had were not all that great, so I haven't contributed because I have nothing to contribute. Sorry. I hope someone can help you soon.

[NOESIS]

This year's Sungma and Castleton 2nd flush teas from Tea Emporium have plenty of muscatel goodness. Couldn't go wrong with either one.

[spinmail]

Great responses - thanks!

It seems that it's a toss-up between Sungma and Castleton 2nd Flushes, and Tea Emporium has nice batches. I hear that DJ-85 is perhaps the best Darjeeling Castleton has produced in years.