STJones wrote:
One thing I noticed Karsten is that people in Darjeeling drink a lot of tea with
milk - about 90% of them.

Maybe even more than those 90%, I'm just back from the chaiwallah and
had some cups of that stuff. Some of the first words I learned some
years ago - Hindi: bi na cini / Nepali: cini nahaleko / NO sugar fer
christ' s sake.

The sad thing (IMO) is that most of the people who work in the gardens
and the locals never had a chance to drink the better grades not to
mention the "jewels". Even here in DJ they're WAY to expensive. Most of
those guys and gals earn around 1000/1500 IRP/month, around 22-33 US $
(sic !). 100g of an average - say Castleton 2nd retail for 400-450 IRP,
so a mere 100g of a tea they possibly plucked with their own hands cost
them almost a third or even half of their monthly income. Very sad
indeed.
A couple weeks ago I invited a local to some high-grade Darjeeling into
my room. I won't forget that session too soon. Just imagine that you
spent some years in those gardens and never get a chance to sample what
the fuss is all about. Did he like it ? You bet !
Yo chyaa, kasto chha ? Ahh, dheeeerai mitho chha ! (How about that tea
? Veeery delicious !)

Are you a local?
Nope, just a lost traveller who spent some years in the Himalayas
(Nepal, India, Tibet).

I had mailed you with a personal enquiry
I sent you a reply, but dunno if it made it, we got terrible
connections up here.
PS: I'll try to check out your friends phone number and addy. Just
check your mail.

Greetings from the "queen of hills" g,
Karsten / Darjeeling




STJones wrote:
Ah! there you are Karsten, I had mailed you with a personal enquiry.
Had been to Darjeeling and it was an invigorating journey. One thing I
noticed Karsten is that people in Darjeeling drink a lot of tea with
milk - about 90% of them. I had visited one chai shop while I was
shopping for some tibetan goodies (for my wife, 'Thankas') with my
guide and he had taken me to a Tibetan shop where I was served with
Tibetan tea - it was a different salty tea accompained with butter. I
forgot the shop's name - it was a long time ago. But that taste, I will
never forget. Oh along with the tea I was also served two round thick
Tibetan breads which had patches of burnt marks on it. Always wanted to
visit the place again. I will if things go as planned.

Are you a local? Well nice to know that we have a member from
Darjeeling. By the way, I love Darjeeling teas.