The Great Tea Race Collection

This outstanding Yunnan black tea selection is composed of handcrafted golden tips with a beautiful downy appearance. The russet-amber liquor is fragrant with hints of molasses. Layers of cocoa, spice and earth weave together to create a rich flavor that is complemented by a caramelized sugar sweetness. A whisper of spice lingers in the finish.

Harvested on March 16th, this organic first flush Darjeeling selection offers bold leaves accented by a plethora of downy silver tips. The amber-gold cup exhibits a bright, refreshing character, which accentuates notes of honey, tropical fruit and melon. A crisp, clean finish completes a delightful tea experience.

The large, neatly twisted leaves of this organic Oolong offering from Colombia produce a medium amber liquor with a fresh aroma reminiscent of a clean ocean breeze. The full-bodied cup is velvety smooth and bursting with a rich ambrosial flavor that fills your mouth with pronounced notes of honey and dried stone fruit. The finish is long and lingering.

Elegant, downy gold tips are showcased in this superb black tea offering from Yunnan province. A sweet cocoa aroma pairs well with toasty/biscuity notes in the thick, rich cup. A silky smooth mouth feel envelops hints of cocoa that linger long into the finish.

A fresh vegetal aroma, reminiscent of newly cut grass, introduces this outstanding green tea offering from Colombia. Long, wiry leaves produce a pale gold liquor that hints of sugared tropical fruit embraced by a full buttery mouth feel. A gentle hint of evergreen lends a clean, crisp quality to the finish.

This rare Assam Silver Tips tea is exclusively downy, silver-white tea tea buds. The pale golden cup offers a toasty aroma with gentle hints of fruit and corn silk. The buttery smooth mouth feel supports a complex flavor profile with ripe fruit hints, suggestive of melon and apricot. A fleeting whisper of Assam maltiness lingers in the sweet finish. A must try for white tea aficionados.

We are excited to offer this outstanding black tea selection as most teas of this superior quality do not leave China. Less than 9 kilograms was produced in Tong Mu, located high in the Wuyi Mountains (formerly Bohea Hills) of northern Fujian province. The large wiry, ebony-brown leaves yield a dark ruby-amber liquor with an inviting caramel aroma hinting of marzipan. The exquisitely smooth cup fills your mouth with a rich depth of flavor – toasted almond notes, hints of warming spices and honeyed apricot, a whisper of earthy smokiness – all embraced by a sweet syrupy quality. The finish lingers with a whisper of spice. This stellar selection is truly a joy to savor.

Harvested on March 4th, 2021, this superior selection is the second plucking of the 2021 first flush season at the Upper division of Namring Estate, one of the oldest tea gardens in Darjeeling district. Ultra-bold leaves, in shades of olive green accented with silver tips, produce a pale amber-gold cup, fragrant with hints of tropical fruit. A smooth buttery mouth feel complements pronounced floral notes and hints of corn silk, enfolded in a rich honey sweetness that lingers long into the finish.

With a tea growing history of over 900 years, the Bulang Mountain range of Yunnan province includes some of the most prized Pu-Erh production regions. The aroma reveals a woody/toasty/sweet earthy complexity, complemented by hints of cocoa. The velvety smooth, rounded cup is dark and rich with notes of molasses, chestnut and a hint of spice. The clean finish lingers with nuances of cinnamon and clove. Produced from a large-leaf varietal, this 4 ½ inch diameter round tea cake weighs approximately 95-100 grams and comes packaged in our silver packet.

Harvested on March 6th, 2021, the very first plucking of the 2021 first flush season at Tindharia Estate, this outstanding selection displays beautiful leaves in shades of green, sprinkled with delicate, silvery tips. The fragrance is fresh and sweet, with hints of corn silk. The sparkling amber-gold cup is bursting with honey sweetness and rich floral notes reminiscent of a spring garden. A buttery smooth mouth feel supports light vegetal hints and a crisp, lively quality that lingers long into the finish. Savor each sip of this stellar offering.

Darjeeling white tea leaves are expertly rolled into medium pearl shapes, which produce a pale-gold liquor with a sweet tropical fruit aroma. A buttery smooth mouth feel and gentle character pair well with a pronounced nectar-like sweetness that lingers long into the finish. Each 'moondrop' pearl weighs approximately 3-4 grams and is perfect for multiple steepings.

Harvested on February 26, 2021, this superlative first flush offering is the very first plucking of the 2021 season at the Rohini Estate, located in the Kurseong valley of Darjeeling district. The exquisite leaves display full leaf sets, crowned with downy silver tips. Accented by notes of honey and corn silk, the sweet aroma evokes the freshness of early spring. The delicate amber-gold cup is buttery smooth with classic floral notes, complemented by light vegetal hints. A lively crisp quality lingers in the finish, completing an unparalleled tea experience.

With the introduction of this special tea, Upton Tea Imports is proud to continue our tradition of being the first US tea company to offer the very first harvest from the first flush Darjeeling season of 2021.