Castleton Muscatel Tea 2025 – Fruity Darjeeling Second Flush

About Castleton Muscatel Tea 2025

Sourced from the prestigious Castleton Tea Estate, the most revered name in the world of Darjeeling Muscatel Tea, this year’s Second Flush 2025 is nothing short of extraordinary. Known for producing the finest muscatel teas globally, Castleton has once again raised the bar with invoice DJ-217, hand-selected as the standout batch of the season.

Through extensive tasting sessions and quality evaluations, DJ-217 emerged as the finest expression of muscatel for 2025—rich, aromatic, and brimming with fruity complexity. Whether you’re an experienced tea connoisseur or exploring fine teas for the first time, this remarkable tea delivers an unforgettable experience.

This Year’s Purchase – DJ-217: Castleton Muscatel 2025

For the 2025 Darjeeling Second Flush, our tea experts sampled numerous invoices from Castleton to find the most expressive muscatel tea of the season. Out of all contenders, DJ-217 stood out with its bold yet elegant profile, exceptional leaf appearance, and vibrant flavor.

What makes Castleton Muscatel DJ-217 truly special is its origin within the estate. This particular lot was harvested from the Allay section—a microzone within Castleton known for producing high-elevation muscatel teas of rare intensity. The leaves were processed on specialized equipment under the watchful eyes of master tea makers to bring out their full potential.

This is not a tea invoice that can be produced in abundance. True Castleton Muscatel Tea is a seasonal rarity, and this particluar invoice, DJ-217 represents the pinnacle of that limited, artisanal production.

Be Cautious While Buying Muscatel Teas

The name “Castleton” carries prestige, and with it comes imitation. While Castleton also produces standard FTGFOP1 Chinary black teas, it’s important to recognize that not all Castleton teas are muscatel.

Chinary black teas, though decent in quality, lack the signature muscatel character that defines the premium offerings. These standard teas are usually not labeled “muscatel” and are sold at significantly lower price points.

Unfortunately, some retailers may misrepresent these plain teas as Darjeeling Muscatel Tea to boost their appeal. To ensure you’re getting the authentic Castleton Muscatel Tea, always check for a specific invoice number (like DJ-217) and verify that it’s labeled as a Second Flush muscatel from Castleton. Genuine muscatels are rare, premium, and priced accordingly—and they’re worth every sip.

 

The dry leaves of the Castleton Muscatel are visually stunning and indicative of expert craftsmanship. They exhibit a rich dark brown to jet-black color, with a uniform, wiry twist that reflects meticulous rolling. Interspersed throughout are striking silver tips, highlighting the careful plucking of only the most tender buds and leaves.

The leaf size is small and consistent—typical of the China variety—and this uniformity ensures a balanced, even infusion. As you examine them closely, you’ll notice the natural sheen of well-processed leaves, free from dust or broken particles. The aroma of the dry leaves is captivating, offering early hints of muscatel grapes, toasted almonds, dried apricots, and a delicate floral touch—each whiff a preview of the tea’s exceptional complexity.

Once brewed, the transformation of these dry leaves is remarkable. The infused leaves take on a radiant coppery-brown tone, with hints of olive green and soft red streaks—indicators of both quality and the high-elevation terroir of the Allay section.

The aroma released by the wet leaves is deeply layered and inviting. Rich muscatel sweetness rises first, followed by secondary notes of ripe plums, wild honey, fresh herbs, and even a gentle minty crispness that cleanses the nose. There’s a subtle earthiness underneath that adds grounding to the otherwise bright, fruity aroma.

This vibrant aromatic profile sets the stage for an equally sophisticated cup and proves this is not just any Darjeeling—it’s Castleton Muscatel Tea at its peak.

The liquor of Castleton Muscatel 2025 is a rich amber-red, bright and clear, with a warm glow that’s both visually appealing and indicative of fine Second Flush teas. The first sip reveals a silky, medium-to-full-bodied mouthfeel, offering both strength and finesse.

At the forefront is the tea’s signature muscatel character—juicy, wine-like sweetness evocative of grapes and stone fruits, balanced by a brisk, slightly astringent edge that lends structure. As the flavor unfolds, you’ll encounter red currants, hints of citrus peel, and a whisper of wildflowers on the mid-palate. A soft maltiness provides depth, while a lingering sweetness coats the tongue.

The finish is long and satisfying, with the fruity notes returning—this time in the form of ripe muscat grapes and a hint of dark cherry, leaving a memorable aftertaste. This tea shines with or without milk, though it’s best enjoyed plain to appreciate its nuanced layers.

Why Choose Castleton Muscatel Tea?

✅ Single-Estate Provenance – Grown exclusively in the Castleton Estate’s Allay section
✅ Authentic Muscatel Flavor – Distinctive to high-quality Darjeeling Second Flush teas
✅ Limited-Edition Batch (DJ-217) – Carefully selected and hand-processed
✅ Exceptional Leaf Quality – Whole leaves with silver tips and vibrant aroma
✅ Rich, Complex Flavor – Perfect balance of fruit, malt, florals, and muscatel magic

Conclusion: An Essential for Darjeeling Muscatel Lovers

For lovers of Darjeeling Muscatel Tea, the Castleton Muscatel, invoice DJ-217 (2025) is an exceptional offering not to be missed. It captures the very soul of Second Flush Darjeeling—aromatic, fruity, complex, and irresistibly smooth.

Whether you’re a lifelong aficionado or just beginning your tea journey, this Castleton Muscatel Tea offers a masterclass in what makes Darjeeling so special. Savor it slowly, share it proudly, and let every cup remind you of the high craftsmanship and tradition that Castleton continues to uphold.

Order now to secure your share of this rare and luxurious Darjeeling masterpiece. Limited availability. Pure excellence.

Water

Use plain filtered or spring water abundance in oxygen. Do not re-use already boiled water for the taste may appear flat.

Temperature

It can be from 203-212 Degree F. Tea leaves are smaller than the clonal varieties, but gives stronger brews. If your water is too hot, let it cool down for a while.

Quantity of Tea leaves

Standard procedure says 2.5 grams per 100 ml of water, but may not be correct as it is complex due to different cultivars, leaf sizes and make. For this it is recommended you use around one teaspoonful per mug of tea.

Steeping Time

Steeping time for this tea is 3-4 minutes, not more than this because it tends to get bitter, but some people like the bitterness it has which is so unique to Darjeeling China classic variety teas. If so you can experiment steeping a bit longer. Longer the steeping time, bitter is the tea.