On Oct 24, 1:11 pm, Ankit Lochan wrote:
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 mewww.teasource.comis 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

Thanks Ankit, once again for enlightening all about Darjeeling Teas.
If I may, I would like to add another angle to your observation.
The topography of Tea growing Districts in India vary most widely in
Darjeeling and Cachar.
More so in Darjeeling, where the variables range from Depth of Soil,
North / South face of the field, Altitude in general, Variety of
Planting Material, Shade Cover to Manufacturing practices in general.
The Quality differs widely within the same estate depending upon the
sections harvested on a particular day. There are estates in
Darjeeling ranging in altitude from 4000 ft to 7000 ft. Harvest from
both these extremes just can not be the same, and Quality comes from
the field, like we all know. Each estate tries to make a balance in
its harvest mix and manufacturing practices, thereby giving some sort
of a consistency to their end product. This also reflect and registers
itself onto the palate of a Taster as Character, which is unique to
each Estate, and becomes its USP. Those who understand and appreciate
this uniqueness would never settle for anything less, and would also
accept seasonal variations in the same stride. But the rest of them
who simply appreciate but do not understand would demand a similar
Tea every time from his vendor. And lo! He cant help but Blend. Toning
Up and sometimes toning Down the Tea. In doing so one may end up
blending some Assam Orthodox or Nepal Orthodox with Darjeeling, and no
respectful Tea Drinker should raise an eyebrow, so long as it is not
sold as "Pure Darjeeling".

Jayesh.