Twinings Darjeeling

I didn't like Twinings Darjeeling. I am not a Darjeeling fan in general, preferring a stronger cuppa. I prefer Jacksons' Darjeeling, as it makes a slightly darker, less astringent brew.

Don't worry about whether Twinings is the "best" or if it holds up to more expensive teas. If you like it, that is all that matters.

Rob

I've tried the Ceylon and the Breakfast Tea, and they were both what I'd term "emergency black tea". The problem I found was that I had to steep for a very short period of time, like 30s, in order to avoid a tannic cup, but the resulting tea was a bit on the weak side. Cheap tea can be found online for less than Twinings, and with better quality.

Ian

Twinings English Breakfast is one of my all-time favourite teas. I always let it steep for four full minutes. I take it without milk or sugar, and do not find it to be tannic at all.

Twinings also makes the best Earl Grey I've ever tasted. I like their Ceylon teas (Ceylon, Ceylon Breakfast, Ceylon Orange Pekoe), but not as much as the English Breakfast. "1706" and "Classic" are both excellent. Classic is very strong, as is Traditional Afternoon. I've never quite understood why Traditional Afternoon is so very strong - stronger than any of the breakfast blends.

I do not like Twinings Darjeeling, or their Irish Breakfast. Lady Grey is not bad, if you like light, citrus flavoured teas; not really my thing.

Twinings teas may not be up to the connoisseur's standards, but I think that they have struck the right balance of being far better than most mass-produced teas, while still being widely available and within the budgets of most people. For anyone who is new to the world of tea, Twinings is an excellent place to start experimenting to get an idea of what you like. Later, you can move on to more expensive and exotic teas if you like, or you can continue to enjoy the products of a company that has been providing the world wtih quality teas for nearly

Twinings is blended in London and packed in the US in North Carolina. I'm not sure if that is good or bad for freshness. It's another Dareeling on the market in a tin. Dajeeling has been around for so long you get what you pay for. I like the Brooke Bond Supreme and Lipton Connoisseur better but they're also more expensive. When it comes to Indian teas I stick with the commercial stuff and let other people waste their money on the n flush estate stuff. My local tea shoppe is going to stock organic Indian estate teas so I'll have to fork out some money or just buy cups to go.

Jim

Mel> What are people's opinions of Twinings Darjeeling? I got a tin awhile back,

This is in general what I was looking for, thanks to those who replied. I know that my tastebuds are my final judgement of course, but I have tried three Darjeelings: a sample from Upton..(I think it was....I don't remember, it was one of the more expensive Dars they had last spring/summer) which I was trying when I was just getting started (basically) in loose tea altogether, I have a bag of Dar. from World Market which doesn't seem as strong or flavorful as the Twinings (that's OK, it was on sale...) and then I've tried the Twinings. I remember my first experience with loose tea ever was some years ago in college when I bought some Twinings English Breakfast (I was using a teaball then) and I remember I liked it. I also overdosed on their Earl Grey at one point too...I still don't care for Earl Grey. :)

In general I was looking for a general opinion of their Dar because it is a tea that I am not familiar with. And I thought that Twinings, being a blend of different estates etc and having such a long history, might be a good generic "place to start". And it was fine it seemed to me...it's not like other black teas but it's not supposed to be.

I don't know why (maybe it's my eclectic sources so far, lol) but the Dars I've tried seem quite different from one another, more so than say, multiple Keemuns. I can pick out "Keemun-ness" from different ones of those, I'm trying to get a handle on "Darjeeling-ness"! :O Thanks to all that wrote and thanks for the recommendations on Twinings Late Afternoon (I haven't tried that one but I'll have to...I like a strong tea) and the talk about the other couple of English Breakfast types that I might want to look into (though I haven't seen a different Lipton...I still can't find an Indian market, have to call my local Indian restaurant I guess.)

Melinda

Melinda,

If you shop at Upton's, try their Makaibari Estate Organic TGBOP1 TD41. It's reasonably priced and very good, from IMHO one of the finest producers in Darjeeling. It will give you a clear idea of what Darjeeling should taste like. This stuff is my "house" Darjeeling.

One other hint: treat this like a fine oolong - keep the water at 190-200F and keep the steep short (2 minutes max). Play with it a little to see what you like, but this and all Darjeeling will become tannic quickly if oversteeped.

Regards, Dean