Tea Cultivar · Hybrid
P-126
- Origin
- India - Darjeeling, Phoobsering Tea Estate
- Primary use
- Darjeeling black tea
Overview
P-126 is a clonal cultivar selected at Phoobsering Tea Estate in the Darjeeling hills and propagated widely from the late 20th century onward as a reliable, higher-yielding companion to the famously aromatic but low-yielding AV2. It is now among the four or five most-planted clones in Darjeeling and forms the backbone of mid-tier and premium estate teas, where it is often blended with AV2, B-157, and old China-jat seedling material to balance aroma, body, and yield.
Characteristics
P-126 bushes are vigorous and semi-erect with medium-large leaves and a slight assamica tilt giving them more body and pluckability than pure China-jat selections. Yields are 30 to 40 percent higher than AV2 under comparable conditions, the cultivar tolerates Darjeeling's monsoon rainfall and steep slopes well, and it shows good recovery after pruning. Bud break is medium and harvest windows are slightly wider than AV2, an important operational advantage.
Flavor profile
The cup is classically Darjeeling - bright, brisk, and amber-coppery - with a clean honey-and-stone-fruit note and a gentler muscatel character than AV2. First-flush P-126 shows the green-floral 'Darjeeling spring' profile with apricot and citrus; second-flush develops sweet ripe-grape, almond, and light cocoa notes. It is a workhorse clone whose reliability and quality have helped sustain Darjeeling's premium positioning.
Where it grows
India - Darjeeling · India - Sikkim