Darjeeling tea has traditionally been prized above all other black teas and is widely considered the "champagne" of teas. It is generally a lighter afternoon tea, but it depends on the time of year the leaves are harvested.

When properly brewed, Darjeeling tea yields a thin-bodied, light-colored liquor with a floral aroma and somewhat astringent, tannic characteristics, as well as a spiciness often referred to by tea connoisseurs as "muscatel." The infusion is bright, tending to be slightly pale and greenish.