Makaibari has a special appeal for visitors because it is a heritage tea factory and the owner is on the premises, a rarity among Darjeeling tea estates. A casual visitor is often thrilled to spend 15 minutes with Rajah Banerjee, 4th generation owner of Makaibari, tasting teas with him and hearing him narrate the history and background of the estate. If they are especially fortunate, he will even take them on a tour of the plantation. And there is much to see. The plantation stretches as far as your eyes can see with permaculture surrounding you - forests, shade trees, grasses, tea bushes, ground cover. Here you can see the beautiful Weeping Love Grass on the sides of the trail leading down to the plantation, with the tea bushes lining the slopes above.
This is not the tea I am used to (ancient forest black). There is a sharpness to it. That is the nice part about the 2oz samples. You can try different teas looking for new tastes and textures. I will experiment with iced tea with this and see how that goes. I will also try it as a Kombucha base. The astringency might be refreshing in that form.
Ervin - you are right. Darjeelings are known for their clear, astringent taste. First flush is the sharpest of the harvests with the 2nd flush being a bit more mellow. If you enjoy Ancient Forest, an Assam such as Classic Assam or Heritage Blend may be closer to the taste you enjoy. Appreciated your feedback!
I drink this tea every morning with a splash of milk. It's an exceptional sip.