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Also known as early-harvest teas, first pluckings or spring teas, these teas refer to the very first harvests of the year, when the tea plant, awakened by the spring rains, begins once again to produce tender young shoots full of promise.
First flush teas are young shoots, brimming with freshness and aromatic complexity. These precious harvests yield teas of unique richness.
During winter, in certain tea-producing regions, the climate considerably slows the growth of the leaves. Although the tea plant does not shed its foliage, it enters a dormancy phase. One must then wait for the first signs of spring – milder temperatures and welcome rainfall – for the plant to resume its activity. This vegetative restart gives rise to the first shoots and buds, particularly rich in aromatic compounds.
The first harvests mark the beginning of a new tea year, and as such they are scrutinised, tasted and compared with great attention. These teas are produced in very limited quantities and within a very short window. Each garden, each lot, each harvest has its own character.
For a tea house like nunshen, this period is synonymous with intense excitement: this is where the creation of the new spring collection begins. Thanks to long-term relationships with producers, we receive samples of every harvested lot — sometimes as many as 50 a day for the Darjeeling region alone. Each one is tasted with rigour and passion, in a very short time, to capture the finest profiles.
To guarantee exceptional sourcing, being there in person is essential. This year, Carine Baudry, Sourcing Director at nunshen, travelled to the plantations of India and Nepal. Being at the heart of the gardens, in direct contact with the artisans, makes it possible to perceive every subtlety of the freshly processed leaves, to discuss cultivation practices, and to seize the most promising opportunities.
This hands-on approach also allows us to discover new gems, to nurture lasting relationships with producers, and to uphold a demanding vision of tea.
This year, nunshen unveils a refined selection of First Flush teas, between the heights of Darjeeling and the gardens of Nepal.
Among these exceptional crus: Phuguri Clonal Tips DJ04.
Located west of Darjeeling, on the border of Nepal, the Phuguri garden — committed to organic farming and Rainforest Alliance certified — cultivates a rare balance between preserved nature and agricultural excellence.
In March, Carine Baudry, Sourcing & Creation Director at nunshen, travelled there to select this lot from the AV2 cultivar, renowned for its floral richness. Harvested from young silvery buds, it reveals a silky texture and delicate rosy notes.
A spring tea both vibrant and elegant, carried by altitude, an exceptional terroir and the history of a place named Phuguri — “abundant camp” — since the 17th century.
Discover the whole selection by clicking here.