Nepal Jun Chiyabari ~ Eli

Coincidentally, today’s review, my first post of 2016, is also my 300th blog post. Neat. ;)

I’m not sure how auspicious it is, but to celebrate I decided to review something from my favorite tea company, Eli Tea. After a year of comparing Eli to other notable and experienced vendors, I call it “my favorite” without hesitation. There are several teas that Eli sells that I’ve yet to review, but he really doesn’t have that many on the menu so I’d probably go through them all and not be able to have an Eli Tea post regularly if i reviewed them too frequently.

Today i’m drinking Nepal Jun Chiyabari. As you probably know by now, I really love Nepalese tea. What you may not know however, is that I really don’t drink a lot of Jun Chiyabari, as it has a tendency to fall closer to an Oolong than a Black on the tea spectrum (although i love the Japanese sounding name). The actual Jun Chiyabari Estate, owned by the Narayani Group, lies in the Hile Hills of Dhankuta district at around 7,000 feet about sea level. However, based on the sheer number of times I’ve encountered the name and the fact that it’s often produced both as an Oolong and as a Black, I have to believe Jun Chiyabari has become more of a catch-all name for the style of leaf from this region.

Geographically, Nepal is very close to Darjeeling, so it comes as no surprise that Nepal Jun Chiyabari has a very sweet, honeyed wet malt aroma and a beautiful bright golden hued liquor not unlike a 2nd flush FTGFOP. Flavor-wise, Nepal Jun Chiyabari isn’t quite as sweet as FTGFOP, but an otherwise bitter Black is tempered by its smooth malty golden Tip. I guess I would say Nepal Jun Chiyabari has a medium grit with a smidgen of Tippy fluff. Where Nepal Jun Chiyabari lacks compared to Darjeeling Blacks, it makes up for in unique character.

1. Aroma – 93
2. Taste – 94
3. Texture – 94
4. Spunk – 96
5. Rarity – 92
6. Availability – 96
7. Appearance – 94

Mean score – 94%

I don’t think i gravitate to Nepal Jun Chiyabari as much as I do to Eli’s Darjeelings and Assams, but regardless it is a very beautiful and delicious tea. Definitely give it a go.