Castleton Jade Oolong | 2025 Second Flush Premium Darjeeling Tea

Arya Topaz Gold Darjeeling Tea (Single Invoice Gold Reserve)

Introducing Castleton Jade Oolong, a redefined and polished avatar from Darjeeling’s legendary Castleton Tea Garden. Plucked during the coveted Second Flush 2025 season, this tea showcases the estate’s signature craftsmanship – high-elevation AV2 clonal leaves, organic farming and a rare semi-oxidized profile that marries the essence of Darjeeling with the spirit of an oolong. The result is a beautifully light and fruit-forward cup with refined elegance and a long, clean finish.

Jade Oolong honors the heritage of its predecessor, while stepping into the new season with added brilliance – perfect for connoisseurs seeking depth, subtlety and a gentle, memorable complexity in the cup.

About Castleton Jade Oolong

Castleton Jade Oolong is perhaps the most poetic of the lot – processed in the style of an oolong, yet unmistakably Darjeeling at heart. It uses the renowned AV2 clone, highly prized for its flavor-rich leaf and aromatic profile. Unlike traditional oolongs, Jade Oolong leans toward a lighter oxidation, preserving the crisp clarity and floral-fruity interplay that Darjeeling Second Flush is famous for. It’s the palate that has to be accustomed to the character of tea.

The dry leaf of Castleton Jade Oolong is visually elegant and aromatic in a restrained, dignified way. Long, twisted, and wiry, the leaves display an interplay of dark olive green, copper and gold – accented by fine golden tips. Their wiry structure speaks of precision hand-plucking and meticulous withering, while their color spectrum hints at expert oxidation control.

A gentle shake releases a subtle aroma – grape skin, faint hay, a whisper of dried roses. There’s no heaviness or smoky overtones here – just a quiet prelude to the sensory poetry that unfolds upon steeping. This visual and aromatic sophistication speaks volumes about the tea’s high-altitude origin and skilled manufacture.

When steeped, the tightly rolled leaves of Castleton Jade Oolong unfurl into soft, coppery-green wet leaves that radiate life and subtle aroma. Their color – copper with light green streaks, confirms the tea’s lightly oxidized nature. The infusion gives off a delicate bouquet: hints of wild orchids, honeycomb, grape skins and damp spring leaves.

The wet leaves are whole or slightly broken, never fragmented, underscoring the tea’s pedigree and careful hand-processing. The scent is inviting, complex, and grounded in nature—not perfumed or overly floral—yet clearly clonal and alive.

The liquor of Castleton Jade Oolong is a translucent light golden-yellow, almost like polished amber held against sunlight. Upon the first sip, it reveals a medium-bodied but feather-light presence. No bitterness, no astringency, just a seamless layering of fruit, floral and almondy warmth.

Upfront, there’s a mild sweet fruity note reminiscent of green grapes, followed by undertones of honeyed almond, faint citrus zest and a very gentle mineral brightness that tingles at the tip of the tongue. The flavor lingers without overstaying, like the final chords of a soft classical piece.

Brewed slightly below boiling – ideally at 82–85°C – the tea gives a more pronounced floral tone. If pushed to hotter water, it retains its character but adds a greener edge. Either way, it’s an invitation to slow down, to listen to the quiet complexity within the cup.

A Jewel Reborn

Castleton Jade Oolong is a refined reflection of the Castleton Tea Garden’s legacy and its enduring commitment to excellence. Drawing upon the AV2 clonal magic, processed with oolong-style semi-oxidation and nurtured in the pristine air of Darjeeling’s high gardens, this tea is a study in elegance and restraint.

Whether you’re a seasoned Darjeeling drinker or an oolong explorer, Castleton Jade Oolong bridges both worlds in one delicate, rewarding cup. Please note it is not to be compared with oolongs from Taiwan, because the characters don’t match and world apart. It a tea having its own acquired characteristics absolutely different from the rest of the world and only a true tea connoisseur wanting to delve into the world of tea can know the versatility of what is being delivered.