Erratic weather steals Darjeeling tea’s muscatel flavor, prices plummet
muscatel flavour for which Darjeeling tea is known worldwide has been missing this year due to erratic weather conditions. Tea planters and traders said that Indian consumers are drinking Darjeeling tea which is being sold with muscatel flavour even though there is hardly any presence of the unique flavour in them. In the international markets prices of Darjeeling tea have fallen by up to 50 per cent for the second flush due to the absence of muscatel flavour.
Darjeeling tea's muscatel flavour is a unique, sweet, and floral taste that's hard to describe, but prized by tea connoisseurs. Muscatel tea has a musky aroma and a unique muscat-like fruitiness.
Some say it has a sweet, floral, and fruity flavour, with notes of raisins and a muscatel finish. Others say it has a medium-bodied taste with notes of nectarines and muscatel grapes. Muscatel tea can be a dark amber colour.
Madhav Sarda, managing director of Golden Tips said “The muscatel flavour is present in the second flush teas that are produced in May-June period. But this time due to erratic weather conditions the flavour is missing in the second flush teas. As a result prices of these teas have dropped between 25 -50 per cent. Some teas that are being sold having muscatel flavour are always not genuine.””
However, the first flush teas Darjeeling teas have fetched better prices this year. Girish Sarda co-owner of the 92-year-old Darjeeling's Nathmulls Tea said, “The teas that were selling at Rs 1,700 per kg last year are now selling at Rs 1900 – Rs 2000 per
