{"title":"Darjeeling First Flush by Air 2026","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e There is sometimes a bit of fanfare around various \"first fruits\" of the season: think of Beaujoulais Primeur, the first new herring or lobster. For some enthusiasts that is a fun or interesting party.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFor tea lovers from Darjeeling, India, the first tea of ​​the season is something special. There are several names for that first tea: Royal First Flush, Flugtee. There is not yet a good Dutch name, so we stick to First Flush by Air, or first harvest flown in by plane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDarjeeling is located in North India, on the border of Nepal. It is, in terms of tea, a special location: the plantations are quite high in the mountains, at the foot of the Himalayas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe idea of ​​the First Flush By Air started in the year 1960. Tea lovers all over the world could hardly wait for the first harvest after the winter season. Every year the tea has its own specific characteristics and taste. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe normal harvest comes to Europe by ship during the year. By quickly bringing (part of) the first harvest to Europe by plane, people could taste and enjoy the new tea sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNowadays, a selection of new hybrids of the tea bush are often cultivated especially for this First Flush to give this tea even more of a special character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDifficult years\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt has not been an easy few years in the Darjeeling Gardens. In 2017, the region experienced lengthy strikes. Many tea pickers and garden managers have also left for other regions in India. They were often better paying jobs compared to the work on the plantations. As a result, the Darjeeling Gardens faced a shortage of suitable workers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis threatens the quality of the tea. When the bushes are ripe for harvest, you will need enough tea pickers to pick enough leaves. Otherwise the leaves will become too big, too thick and too hard. This affects its aroma and the sweetness of the tea leaf. The result is lower production and Darjeeling tea appears on the market with an inferior quality due to the late picking of the refined leaf. Due to the lower quality and lower production, prices and wages are under pressure again, which in turn leads to lower enthusiasm among employees. So a vicious circle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe harvest in 2018 was very problematic. Due to the strikes in 2017, the bushes had grown too much and due to the lack of qualified employees, the yield was considerably lower than usual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2022\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n \u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis year we see a higher price for the tea. Under pressure from the changing world market, prices of coffee and tea and of food in general are rising.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e The tea is nevertheless of high quality and the taste is special.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"no-274-darjeeling-samabeong-ftgfop1","title":"No. 356 Darjeeling Samabeong FTGFOP1","description":"\u003ch1 class=\"vh-header1\"\u003e First pick of Darjeeling\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003eSamabeong's first crop of Darjeeling is unique, reflecting the beautiful environment in its smooth, delicate taste. The scent is sweet and has notes of stone fruits. A distinct tea from a special plantation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis tea is a Limited Edition.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 itemprop=\"description\"\u003eFirst pick\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn early spring, when the daytime temperature slowly rises a little bit every day, the tea bushes awaken from winter. Growth starts slowly. This slow growth results in a particularly intense flavor with many nuances and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 itemprop=\"description\"\u003eSamabeong Tea Estate\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003eAt the foothills of the Himalayas, Samabeong Tea Estate was established in 1882. It is in one of the most remote regions of Darjeeling, near the border with Bhutan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003eThe plantation is embedded in the magical flora and fauna of Neora Valley National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site with an enormous wealth of plant and animal species and great biodiversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003eAt Samabeong Tea Estate, first-class organic tea is produced at an altitude of 2000 meters. A unique tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 itemprop=\"description\"\u003eKind\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"category\"\u003eBlack tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBrewing advice\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" height=\"50x50\" width=\"50x50\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/files\/Lepel_100x100.jpg?v=1632429032\" alt=\"Tea icon for dosage - spoon\" style=\"float: none;\" data-mce-style=\"float: none;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/files\/Lepel_100x100.jpg?v=1632429032\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"50x50\" width=\"50x50\" style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"Tea icon of a clock, for the brewing time\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/files\/Klokje_50x50.jpg?v=1632429080\" data-mce-style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/files\/Thermometer_2bf7f076-9671-4ee8-931d-47bed714c675_50x50.jpg?v=1632429539\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003ctd style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e12 grams\/litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\u003ctd style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e2-3 minutes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\u003ctd style=\"text-align: center;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e100°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor tea, we generally recommend using soft, low-lime water. Such as filtered water or spring water.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBrand \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp itemprop=\"brand\"\u003eVan Hilst Coffee and Tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"Van Hilst Koffie en Thee","offers":[{"title":"180 grams","offer_id":41464343134390,"sku":"35357","price":14.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"150 grams (5% DISCOUNT)","offer_id":41464343167158,"sku":"35357","price":26.63,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 grams (10% DISCOUNT)","offer_id":41464343199926,"sku":"35357","price":42.05,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Monster 24 gram","offer_id":51006343840082,"sku":"35357","price":6.75,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/files\/No-356-Darjeeling-First-Flush-Samabeong.jpg?v=1750757460"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/6279\/9030\/collections\/a683064739df177b1a970c5c8cb09d02.jpg?v=1652967278","url":"https:\/\/www.vanhilst.com\/en-de\/collections\/darjeeling-first-flush-by-air-2022.oembed","provider":"Van Hilst Koffie en Thee","version":"1.0","type":"link"}