Tea Cultivar · Hybrid
AV2
- Origin
- India - Darjeeling, Ambari Tea Estate
- Registered
- 1980s
- Primary use
- Darjeeling black tea, white tea, green tea
Overview
AV2 - Ambari Vegetative 2 - is a clonal cultivar selected at Ambari Tea Estate in Darjeeling from a remarkable individual seedling identified for its exceptional aromatic quality. Released to other Darjeeling estates from the 1980s onward, it has become the single most prestigious clone planted in the region, prized for delivering an unusually concentrated muscatel character even in first flush - historically a quality reserved for second-flush teas. AV2 plantings are typically reserved for premium small-lot production and command significant price premiums at the Darjeeling auctions and direct-trade markets.
Characteristics
Bushes show clear China-jat (sinensis) dominance with some assamica influence: small to medium glossy leaves, compact upright habit, modest yields, and a tendency to put up a high proportion of fine two-leaves-and-a-bud shoots. AV2 is more cold-tolerant than pure assamica clones - important for Darjeeling's 1,500 to 2,000 meter elevation gardens - but more demanding in soil and shade management than the older China-jat seedling populations. Bud break is medium-late.
Flavor profile
The signature character is a soaring muscatel grape aroma - pronounced even in first flush, when it combines with classic Darjeeling green-floral notes (jasmine, honeysuckle, fresh mountain air) to produce some of the most aromatic black teas in the world. Second-flush AV2 deepens into ripe peach, sweet wine, and almond skin with a long, complex finish. The cultivar takes exceptionally well to gentle processing for Darjeeling white and oolong-style teas, both of which are now an important specialty segment.
Where it grows
India - Darjeeling · India - Sikkim · Nepal - Ilam