What is Darjeeling tea?

The tea resorts of Darjeeling are located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in northeastern India. Good Darjeelings are often referred to as the "Champagne" of teas. They have a subtle, mellow, and muscatel like flavour. The unique combination of climate, elevation, and the quality of the soil and air make Darjeeling teas unlike any other tea. In northern Darjeeling plantations cultivate tea from bushes grown from China plants. The estates in the southern part of Darjeeling cultivate tea from the Assamica plant (the Assam plant tents to prefer plentiful rainfall). Due to the climate and the high elevations, Darjeeling tea bushes tend not to grow throughout the year.