On Oct 23, 2:17 am, Ferris wrote:
I am looking to buy some slightly higher grade tea than what I'm used
to and I was looking on Upton's website at their selection of Indian
Black teas. I was amazed at the price disparity between their
Darjeelings and their Nilgiris or Assams. Maybe I'm being naive, but
is that difference really representative of quality? Or is this just
Darjeeling name value?

If I was just going by prices, I'd think that Darjeelings must be so
much better than Assam and Nilgiri that I shouldn't bother with the
latter two. That's a fallacy, right?

it feels really good when people are looking for quality indian teas.
i pesonally get a feeling that indian teas are being recognised and
that makes me jump my seat.

tradional darjeelings will be black in appearance or rather brown
black, the infusion will be coppery, the cup will be dark brown or
reddish and you can see till the bottom very clearly. go for a pure
second flush muscatel 2007 from a reputed single estate like margarets
hope, caselton , jungpana, goomtee , makaibari... you will be able to
find out why exactly darjeeling teas are sold ten times more than what
is the actual produce.

according to me www.teasource.com is one of the sources that carries
tradional darjeelings rather than the fancy new type greenish, less
oxidized darjeelings. give it a try - its worth it!

there is a vast diffrence between darjeeling, assam and nilgiri. the
first point being their growing conditions, secondly the altitude,
thirdly the soil... makes it all very diffrent.

sincere regards
ankit