I've been in a regular contact with the managers of various
plantations in Darjeeling and all the gardens will come up with a slow
start this year due to the uneven balance of temperature this year
which makes the growth of new leafs and buds very slow, talking about
the Darjeeling Valley Gardens like Puttabong, North Tukvar, Barnesbeg
etc. which use to start with their 1st invoices of First Flush by
probably the end of 1st week of March will get their first couple of
invoices only by the 10th of March or may be a couple of Days later.
The Kurseong Valley gardens like Castleton, Goomtee, Jungpana, and
Makaibari etc. will start after the 15th of March but the Mirik valley
gardens which are usually late starters like Thurbo, Gopaldhara etc
might be early starter this year as unusually the area is much more
humid this year so leaf growth is expected to be rapid in these
gardens and we can expect early invoices from these gardens.

On Mar 4, 5:41*pm, wrote:
I've been in a regular contact with the managers of various
plantations in Darjeeling and all the gardens will come up with a slow
start this year due to the uneven balance of temperature this year
which makes the growth of new leafs and buds very slow, talking about
the Darjeeling Valley Gardens like Puttabong, North Tukvar, Barnesbeg
etc. which use to start with their 1st invoices of First Flush by
probably the end of 1st week of March will get their first couple of
invoices only by the 10th of March or may be a couple of Days later.
The Kurseong Valley gardens like Castleton, Goomtee, Jungpana, and
Makaibari etc. will start after the 15th of March but the Mirik valley
gardens which are usually late starters like Thurbo, Gopaldhara etc
might be early starter this year as unusually the area is much more
humid this year so leaf growth is expected to be rapid in these
gardens and we can expect early invoices from these gardens.

yes rajiv - the flush is late this year. while on the other hand some
gardens have started rolling out their early EX invoices in very small
quantities. glenburn has already made their EX1, rohini has started
getting an average of 200 to 300 kilos of leaf, giddapahar has done
their yearly puja, badamtam has made their first invoice already,
margarets hope is having their spring plucking puja tomorow - they
willl start plucking regularly soon.... as far as i have heard is that
makaibari has also rolled out quite a few EX invoices already ... lets
hope that yesterdays light showers will help in the blooming and we
get a good round of teas this year.

we are all keeping our fingers crossed and anticipating a good crop -
we dont mind it being a bit late. lets wait and see what nature has in
store for us.

take care
ankit

On Mar 5, 6:13*pm, Ankit Lochan wrote:
On Mar 4, 5:41*pm, wrote:

I've been in a regular contact with the managers of various
plantations in Darjeeling and all the gardens will come up with a slow
start this year due to the uneven balance of temperature this year
which makes the growth of new leafs and buds very slow, talking about
the Darjeeling Valley Gardens like Puttabong, North Tukvar, Barnesbeg
etc. which use to start with their 1st invoices of First Flush by
probably the end of 1st week of March will get their first couple of
invoices only by the 10th of March or may be a couple of Days later.
The Kurseong Valley gardens like Castleton, Goomtee, Jungpana, and
Makaibari etc. will start after the 15th of March but the Mirik valley
gardens which are usually late starters like Thurbo, Gopaldhara etc
might be early starter this year as unusually the area is much more
humid this year so leaf growth is expected to be rapid in these
gardens and we can expect early invoices from these gardens.

yes rajiv - the flush is late this year. while on the other hand some
gardens have started rolling out their early EX invoices in very small
quantities. glenburn has already made their EX1, rohini has started
getting an average of 200 to 300 kilos of leaf, giddapahar has done
their yearly puja, badamtam has made their first invoice already,
margarets hope is having their spring plucking puja tomorow - they
willl start plucking regularly soon.... as far as i have heard is that
makaibari has also rolled out quite a few EX invoices already ... lets
hope that yesterdays light showers will help in the blooming and we
get a good round of teas this year.

we are all keeping our fingers crossed and anticipating a good crop -
we dont mind it being a bit late. lets wait and see what nature has in
store for us.

take care
ankit

btw - rajiv just an FYI - china first flush normally comes by march
end - they have unofficially announced that their first flush will be
in april end this year due to the heavy snow they had... the
international scenario of production is a bit behind this year, same
for the crop also...

ankit

On Mar 4, 5:41*pm, wrote:
I've been in a regular contact with the managers of various
plantations in Darjeeling and all the gardens will come up with a slow
start this year due to the uneven balance of temperature this year
which makes the growth of new leafs and buds very slow, talking about
the Darjeeling Valley Gardens like Puttabong, North Tukvar, Barnesbeg
etc. which use to start with their 1st invoices of First Flush by
probably the end of 1st week of March will get their first couple of
invoices only by the 10th of March or may be a couple of Days later.
The Kurseong Valley gardens like Castleton, Goomtee, Jungpana, and
Makaibari etc. will start after the 15th of March but the Mirik valley
gardens which are usually late starters like Thurbo, Gopaldhara etc
might be early starter this year as unusually the area is much more
humid this year so leaf growth is expected to be rapid in these
gardens and we can expect early invoices from these gardens.

The first few pluckings of First Flush are decided more by the
atmospheric temperatures than humidity.
S. M. Changoiwala
Gopaldhara tea company PVT Ltd.
Kolkota