I am back from India with a lot of tea related information. I want to
start with Chai masala. I have been tried chai masala in sixteen
different shops, street vendors and restaurants from lower to upper
scale. But one thing surprised me that none of their chai masala has
the same taste. Some chai masala were more cloves flavor, some more
ginger flavor and some extra spicy, some extra sweet. Even I haven't
seen any similarity with Bangladeshi Masala Cha.

Then I tried to crack inside the masala mix formula. I bought the
masala mix from different vendors and again different taste. End of my
research is- Chai masala has no strict mixing theory. It's all depends
on personal taste. Though I am still working on the chemical taste
with one of my chemist friend. None of those masala mix came up with
the same spices. I have talked with many Indian people (Bengali,
Gujrati, Tamil, Shiks etc.) But none of them were able to give me a
specific answer of the masala mix. But my understanding is- the
individual spice level (inside the masala mix) depends person to
person, state to state, region to region. Will let you know more after
the whole chemical analysis.

I have taken a lots of picture of preparing Masala Chai. But don't
know, how to show you here. I am very happy to come back to my lovely
country, especially to my kitchen where- I have my huge collection of
teas. I came back with lots of tea and don't know where to keep them.
Another piece of interesting information I would like to add with this
post- I have talked with many top tea company's CEO and tea tasters
but none of them had clear idea about Chinese tea. Some of them even
never heard of Yunnan, Keemun or Lapsang Souchong. Even when I tried
to explain the exotic taste of Chinese tea, they start talking about
delicate Darjeeling tea. To me they even don't want to talk about
Chinese tea except one tea taster. I have meet many wonderful people
who helped me generously with information. One of them was- tea
legends is Mr. Ashok Lohia( Supply tea to Hareny & Sons). He is a very
busy person but kindly talked with me over the phone and sends his
Export manager Mr. Vivek M. Atal ( This gentleman really knows a lot
about tea). He came to my hotel and educated me about Indian tea with
a lot of new information. Mr. Moitra from Sharaia group worked so hard
to collect all Indian tea samples for me during this off-season. We
became friends for life time. He is working as an export manager of
this on of the largest Indian tea exporter. Being a Indian Bengali, he
treated me as his brother. Mr. C. H. Shah Director(Marketing) of
Premier's tea helped me so generously. He let me use his personal car
and gave me the chance to visit his tea processing factory. Stayed
with me the whole day and let me talk with many tea experts from his
company. He is a western graduate with open minded young man. Both of
us having business background, same kind of educational background,
same culture. We felt very close to each other, our mental connection
was almost the same. From tea to history and politics- we talked about
everything. Also Mrs. Ray(Director of Tea promotion bureau) from Tea
board of India who gave me all the information about Indian tea
industry. Many more friends who never let me feel, I was in a foreign
land. Great food, tea and chat.

Also meet Mr. Silva a very experienced tea broker from Sri Lanka who
was doing some marketing research about Indian tea. Gave me some
wonderful Dimbula tea. He was in the same hotel with me and many
evenings, we had beer and have exchanged information about Ceylon and
Bangladeshi tea. Hope to visit him very soon in Sri Lanka.

Dear tea lovers, I don't know where to start. Can you please help me,
where to start? Thanks.

Ripon
(Dhaka, Bangladesh)

great beginning-
what topics did you add to your book? relative to your trip-
joanne
"Ripon" wrote in message
om...
I am back from India with a lot of tea related information. I want to
start with Chai masala. I have been tried chai masala in sixteen
different shops, street vendors and restaurants from lower to upper
scale. But one thing surprised me that none of their chai masala has
the same taste. Some chai masala were more cloves flavor, some more
ginger flavor and some extra spicy, some extra sweet. Even I haven't
seen any similarity with Bangladeshi Masala Cha.

Then I tried to crack inside the masala mix formula. I bought the
masala mix from different vendors and again different taste. End of my
research is- Chai masala has no strict mixing theory. It's all depends
on personal taste. Though I am still working on the chemical taste
with one of my chemist friend. None of those masala mix came up with
the same spices. I have talked with many Indian people (Bengali,
Gujrati, Tamil, Shiks etc.) But none of them were able to give me a
specific answer of the masala mix. But my understanding is- the
individual spice level (inside the masala mix) depends person to
person, state to state, region to region. Will let you know more after
the whole chemical analysis.

I have taken a lots of picture of preparing Masala Chai. But don't
know, how to show you here. I am very happy to come back to my lovely
country, especially to my kitchen where- I have my huge collection of
teas. I came back with lots of tea and don't know where to keep them.
Another piece of interesting information I would like to add with this
post- I have talked with many top tea company's CEO and tea tasters
but none of them had clear idea about Chinese tea. Some of them even
never heard of Yunnan, Keemun or Lapsang Souchong. Even when I tried
to explain the exotic taste of Chinese tea, they start talking about
delicate Darjeeling tea. To me they even don't want to talk about
Chinese tea except one tea taster. I have meet many wonderful people
who helped me generously with information. One of them was- tea
legends is Mr. Ashok Lohia( Supply tea to Hareny & Sons). He is a very
busy person but kindly talked with me over the phone and sends his
Export manager Mr. Vivek M. Atal ( This gentleman really knows a lot
about tea). He came to my hotel and educated me about Indian tea with
a lot of new information. Mr. Moitra from Sharaia group worked so hard
to collect all Indian tea samples for me during this off-season. We
became friends for life time. He is working as an export manager of
this on of the largest Indian tea exporter. Being a Indian Bengali, he
treated me as his brother. Mr. C. H. Shah Director(Marketing) of
Premier's tea helped me so generously. He let me use his personal car
and gave me the chance to visit his tea processing factory. Stayed
with me the whole day and let me talk with many tea experts from his
company. He is a western graduate with open minded young man. Both of
us having business background, same kind of educational background,
same culture. We felt very close to each other, our mental connection
was almost the same. From tea to history and politics- we talked about
everything. Also Mrs. Ray(Director of Tea promotion bureau) from Tea
board of India who gave me all the information about Indian tea
industry. Many more friends who never let me feel, I was in a foreign
land. Great food, tea and chat.

Also meet Mr. Silva a very experienced tea broker from Sri Lanka who
was doing some marketing research about Indian tea. Gave me some
wonderful Dimbula tea. He was in the same hotel with me and many
evenings, we had beer and have exchanged information about Ceylon and
Bangladeshi tea. Hope to visit him very soon in Sri Lanka.

Dear tea lovers, I don't know where to start. Can you please help me,
where to start? Thanks.

Ripon
(Dhaka, Bangladesh)


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 1/8/04

"Joanne Rosen" wrote in message ink.net...
great beginning-
what topics did you add to your book? relative to your trip-
joanne

I have already decided the topics for my book, I am talking about here
at Rec.food.drink.tea.

Have anyone try Golden tips(I mean just the top buds) from Assam? If
yes- from which estate, what do you think of the taste?

Ripon
(Dhaka, Bangladesh)

(Ripon) wrote in message . com...
"Joanne Rosen" wrote in message ink.net...
great beginning-
what topics did you add to your book? relative to your trip-
joanne

I have already decided the topics for my book, I am talking about here
at Rec.food.drink.tea.

Have anyone try Golden tips(I mean just the top buds) from Assam? If
yes- from which estate, what do you think of the taste?

Ripon

I want to add some new topic in my book- the difference of tea culture
in different region in India, A new topic on Dooars, sikkim tea. Also
an entire chapter on Chai masala. Topic on Indian white, Oolong tea.
That's I am working on right now. Some great maps on South Asian tea
region also an entire chapter on tea from Bangladesh and many more. I
am trying to make a whole list of Indian tea with production and taste
description.

Ripon
(Dhaka, Bangladesh)