Description
Poobong First Flush 2026 FTGFOP1
Poobong Darjeeling First Flush FTGFOP1 – dry tea leaves
click pictures(s) to enlarge
The Poobong First Flush 2026 is a high-grade Darjeeling tea from the first spring picking of the Poobong Tea Estate in Darjeeling, India. It comes from the early phase of the young spring, and only the tender bud with the two youngest leaves is picked by hand.
The processing follows the style of modern Darjeeling First Flush teas. The leaves wither gently overnight, and they are then rolled with care. Oxidation remains very light, so the fresh and lively character of the spring picking stays intact. The leaf shows a vivid mix of green, silvery and lightly reddish-brown tones, and the infusion appears clear and light amber.
On the palate, the tea develops in three stages. A lively, sparkling freshness marks the opening, and a present, layered middle follows with floral sweetness and mineral-spicy depth. A fine and elegant finish completes the progression and defines the character of the earliest spring pickings.
Preparation
FUse about 3 g of tea per 100 ml of water. Pour with freshly boiling water after it settles briefly (90–100 °C).
The first infusion lasts about 2–3 minutes, and it highlights the fresh and lively side of the tea. A second infusion of about 5 minutes follows and brings more depth while rounding off the flavour.
Poobong – The Tea Garden
The Poobong Tea Estate (also; “Pubong”) dates back to 1913, and it remains in Indian ownership today. The garden lies near Ghoom, and this location ranks among the highest railway stations in the world.
The tea fields stretch across elevations from about 900 to 1,700 meters. The estate covers roughly 1,000 acres, and about 500 acres carry tea plants. Annual production reaches around 70,000 kilograms.
“Poobong” – one of the finest tea gardens of Darjeeling
Different cultivars developed over time grow in the garden, and they shape the profile of the teas produced here. This creates a wide range of aromas and flavours.
Steep mountain slopes and frequent mist define the local conditions, and they shape the microclimate in a decisive way. The name “Poobong” means “a valley behind the clouds,” and it reflects this setting very well.
The Indian First Flush Season
The term “First Flush” is strongly linked to India, but first spring pickings exist in all tea-growing regions. Everywhere, the first harvest after winter holds a special place. The reason lies in the high concentration of active compounds in young leaves after the winter pause. During the cooler months, picking stops for several weeks or even months, and the plants recover during this time. Cool temperatures, moisture and mist also support this process, and they help the plants build up these compounds. When spring arrives and days grow longer, the plants push them into the young leaves and buds. And this is something you can taste!
“Early” and “late” First Flushes
The First Flush season is not uniform, and quality and flavour vary between batches. The very first picking of the year, often called “EX1”, yields only a small amount of tea. At the same time, effort remains high and demand is strong, so prices often reach very high levels. This applies especially to estates that start picking very early, sometimes before the end of February. These teas form the leading edge of the season, and they reach the market first. Later pickings from the same estates appear from April onwards, and they come in larger quantities at more accessible prices. However, they no longer capture the very first moment of spring. Other Darjeeling estates begin picking later due to their location, often in mid or late March. The same pattern applies, but it shifts by a few weeks.
Tea from India at Siam Tea Shop
The ongoing trend towards higher tea quality in Western markets is increasingly bearing fruit in India as well. At the same time, diversity has increased. Early pickings in particular now show a much wider range of styles. The spectrum runs from light and floral First Flush teas to fuller Second Flush teas and to earthy, malty Autumnals. The Poobong First Flush FTGFOP1 presented here is a clear example of a modern Darjeeling First Flush.
.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.