Thurbo FTGFOP1 Tippy Clonal – Darjeeling Second Flush 2025 Tea

Thurbo Tippy Clonal Darjeeling

Perched in the mystical hills of Darjeeling’s Mirik Valley, Thurbo Tea Estate has once again delivered a masterpiece with its FTGFOP1 Tippy Clonal tea from the Second Flush 2025 season. This refined clonal Darjeeling, harvested during the warm summer months, brings forth the quintessential muscatel character associated with Thurbo’s best second flushes – smooth, aromatic, and glowing with the brilliance of high-altitude sun and soil.

Crafted with precision and care, this lot captures the soul of the Thurbo garden: elegance, complexity and a signature fruity-muscatel interplay that has enchanted tea connoisseurs for generations.

Located at altitudes ranging from 980 to 2440 meters, Thurbo Tea Estate is nestled between two rivers – the Mechi and Rangbang – and flanked by dense forest and rolling hills. The name “Thurbo” is believed to have originated from a military encampment (“Tombu”, a Nepali word) set up by British troops during a local uprising in the 19th century.

Over the decades, Thurbo has become a name synonymous with classic Darjeeling excellence. The estate’s unique location in the Mirik Valley offers misty mornings, abundant sunshine and rich, loamy soil – conditions ideal for nurturing highly aromatic tea leaves with complex flavor profiles. The estate cultivates a mix of chinary bushes and select high-quality clones, each contributing its own nuance to the final cup.

What sets Thurbo apart is its unwavering focus on producing high-elevation teas with delicate body, floral high notes and that lovely muscatel depth that emerges only during the second flush. Each harvest is the culmination of climatic precision, traditional expertise and a passion for producing teas with soul.

The dry leaves of Thurbo FTGFOP1 Tippy Clonal 2025 instantly make an impression with their fine appearance and captivating aroma.

• Visual Appeal: The leaves are shorter than it’s Moonlight versions, but very well-twisted and elegantly rolled, showing meticulous craftsmanship. You’ll notice a tapestry of deep chocolate brown to russet hues, woven with bright silver and golden tips—a visual hallmark of fine second flush teas from high elevations. These tips aren’t just aesthetic; they promise sweetness and complexity in the brew to follow.

• Texture: The dry leaf feels crisp yet supple between the fingers, indicating optimal withering and oxidation. There’s only whole, wiry leaves and buds, no dust.

• Aroma: Lift the leaves to your nose, and you’re greeted with a layered fragrance. Notes of honeyed florals, dried figs, sun-warmed wood and a hint of cocoa nib come through delicately. The aroma is clean, inviting and unmistakably Darjeeling, with a quiet elegance that sets it apart from more assertive teas.

Every detail in the dry leaf reflects not just the care in plucking and processing, but also the terroir of Thurbo – high mountain air, pristine environment, and generations of tea-making wisdom.

As the leaves meet hot water, they unfurl and release their inner character, offering a true preview of what the cup will deliver.

• • • Color Transformation: The dry leaves blossom into hues of bronze, copper, and olive green, revealing their tender origin and careful processing. Many of the buds retain their silvery sheen even after steeping – kudos to their quality.

    • Aromatic Unfolding: The wet leaves are intensely fragrant. The initial nose brings fruity sweetness – like peach compote, baked apricot and plum skin – followed by undertones of wet wood, toasted nuts and a lingering note of rose or wildflower. There’s also a gentle muskiness characteristic of mature second flush Darjeelings, which lends depth to the aromatic profile.

Texture & Form: Upon inspection, the infused leaves remain whole and intact – showing no signs of over-processing or machine damage. The mix of green and brownish-copper hues reflects a carefully controlled oxidation, highlighting the skill of the Thurbo tea masters.

The infusion stage is not just a sensory delight; it reveals the soul of the leaf – its journey from bush to cup and the story it carries from the slopes of Mirik.

This is the moment where all elements converge—the soil, the season, the leaf and the craftsmanship – to create a cup that speaks with clarity and elegance.

• Appearance: The liquor is luminous – a deep golden-amber with flashes of copper in natural light. It is brilliantly clear, with a light viscosity that swirls gently in the cup.

• Aroma: Take a moment before sipping. The steam rising from the cup brings a symphony of muscatel, soft fruity highs, a whisper of burnt sugar and a trace of baked orange peel. The complexity is vibrant yet balanced.

• Taste:

  • Attack: A light astringency opens the palate, followed by the lush sweetness of grape skin, honey and mature stone fruits.

  • Mid-palate: Here, the tea expands – muscatel richness mingles with hints of cocoa shell, almond husk, and dry citrus zest. The flavors roll smoothly, never overpowering, always refined.

  • Finish: Long and resonant, the finish leaves a sweet, fruity echo, with a touch of cool minty clarity that refreshes the tongue. It’s the kind of finish that invites another sip and another.

• Mouthfeel: The body is silky yet agile, coating the tongue gently while maintaining lift and brightness. It’s a harmonious brew – neither too light nor too full – striking the perfect middle path that defines a truly great second flush Darjeeling.

This liquor encapsulates the essence of Thurbo – a garden that doesn’t shout, but sings softly and beautifully through every cup.

Conclusion – A Second Flush Masterwork from Thurbo

In the world of fine Darjeeling teas, few gardens manage to consistently produce teas that both comfort and surprise. Thurbo FTGFOP1 Tippy Clonal 2025 is one such example. It captures not just the beauty of Darjeeling’s second flush but also the quiet strength of the Mirik Valley, the legacy of the Thurbo estate and the precision of modern clonal cultivation.

It’s a tea that offers balance and brilliance, warmth and freshness, tradition and subtle innovation. Whether you’re a connoisseur seeking that elusive muscatel sweetness or a casual sipper looking for a refined, daily cup, this Thurbo creation will meet you there – with grace in the leaf and poetry in the liquor.

Let it steep. Let it speak. Let it sing.