This year, Upton Tea Imports proposes more than 40 different
Darjeelings. I decided to check more than half of them to see if the
other side of Atlantic has something better to offer in this field
than Old Europe. I describe briefly the results of my tasting which
are quite subjective and certainly influenced by my personal taste.
Samples (2 grams) were steeped for 4 min. in tap water (180 ml, 95°C)
filtered with Britta filter.
The 25 tasted samples may be separated into four following groups:
1) Fine but rather pricey teas:
TD93 Castleton DJ-124, fine fruity flavor with overtones of exotic
wood. Light muscatel SF tea. Very fine tea.
TD83 Namring EX-5, sweet complex floral and smooth FF. Very fine tea.
TD77 Phuguri Tippy DJ-13, fine floral, "sweet green almond", flavor,
smooth cup
TD97 Sungma DJ-5, fine, complex floral flavor. Fine green leaf.
2) Very good, not overly expensive teas:
TD23 Puttabong DJ-91 fine floral smooth Second Flush
TD67 Puttabong DJ-94, fine floral, spicy, smooth Second Flush. Very
green leaf for SF tea (In-between-like). Better than TD91.
TD26 Nagri DJ-10, sweet floral (jasmine-like) smooth tea. Fine leaf.
TD31 Margaret's Hope DJ-33, rather rich sweet floral-fruity flavor,
smooth cup. Fine leaf.
TD51 Avongrove DJ-44, sweet, fruity with hints of exotic wood and a
trace of muscatel, darker cup. Good everyday DJ tea.
3) Good, average teas, sometimes more expensive than those in the
group No2:
TD52 Jogamaya Second Flush , sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth
tea, gives rather dark cup, reminds classic SF type tea, good and
economic everyday tea. Fine leaf.
TD65 Phuguri DJ-91, fine fruity and smooth SF
TD27 North Tukvar DJ-53 sweet, floral, green medium-bodied and smooth
tea. Fine green leaf.
TD54 Namring Upper EX-111, sweet fruity, medium-bodied all-round tea
TD29 Risheehat DJ-24, fine floral, smooth First Flush tea
TD90 Puttabong Supreme DJ-6, green, fine floral, smooth FF. Fine very
green leaf.
TD58 Okayati DJ-10, fruity,a bit vegetal smooth tea with traces of
floral and spicy tones.
TD63 Arya DJ-1, fine green floral FF.Very green and fine leaf .
TD68 Puttabong DJ-271, sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth tea
(SF)
TD59 Orange Valley DJ-74, sweet, fruity with hints of citrus, smooth
tea
TD88 Orange Valley DJ-4, sweet, honey-like flavor.Very green,fine
leaf.
TD62 Arya DJ-61, sweet, fruity average SF
TD37 North Tukvar DJ-19, fine floral good FF
TD91 Puttabong Supreme DJ-53, fine floral, smooth FF
TD54 Namring Upper EX-16, fine floral and fruity, very smooth tea.
Very good all-round Darjeeling tea.
4) Poor quality tea:
TD92 Sungma DJ-163, unpleasant off-flavor
It's not so bad. In fact, all these teas are drinkable with the only
one exception (TD92).

Karel Valter

Karel,

I'd be very surprised if Darjeelings available here are generally as good as
those available in Germany and in your country. Nonetheless, Kyela Teas in
Canada is a better bet for comparison. I wouldn't expect too much from Upton
in any event.

I would have steeped less time and used just a bit more tea. But, that's a
personal preference.

Michael



Karel 11/7/04


> This year, Upton Tea Imports proposes more than 40 different
> Darjeelings. I decided to check more than half of them to see if the
> other side of Atlantic has something better to offer in this field
> than Old Europe. I describe briefly the results of my tasting which
> are quite subjective and certainly influenced by my personal taste.
> Samples (2 grams) were steeped for 4 min. in tap water (180 ml, 95?)
> filtered with Britta filter.
> The 25 tasted samples may be separated into four following groups:
> 1) Fine but rather pricey teas:
> TD93 Castleton DJ-124, fine fruity flavor with overtones of exotic
> wood. Light muscatel SF tea. Very fine tea.
> TD83 Namring EX-5, sweet complex floral and smooth FF. Very fine tea.
> TD77 Phuguri Tippy DJ-13, fine floral, "sweet green almond", flavor,
> smooth cup
> TD97 Sungma DJ-5, fine, complex floral flavor. Fine green leaf.
> 2) Very good, not overly expensive teas:
> TD23 Puttabong DJ-91 fine floral smooth Second Flush
> TD67 Puttabong DJ-94, fine floral, spicy, smooth Second Flush. Very
> green leaf for SF tea (In-between-like). Better than TD91.
> TD26 Nagri DJ-10, sweet floral (jasmine-like) smooth tea. Fine leaf.
> TD31 Margaret's Hope DJ-33, rather rich sweet floral-fruity flavor,
> smooth cup. Fine leaf.
> TD51 Avongrove DJ-44, sweet, fruity with hints of exotic wood and a
> trace of muscatel, darker cup. Good everyday DJ tea.
> 3) Good, average teas, sometimes more expensive than those in the
> group No2:
> TD52 Jogamaya Second Flush , sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth
> tea, gives rather dark cup, reminds classic SF type tea, good and
> economic everyday tea. Fine leaf.
> TD65 Phuguri DJ-91, fine fruity and smooth SF
> TD27 North Tukvar DJ-53 sweet, floral, green medium-bodied and smooth
> tea. Fine green leaf.
> TD54 Namring Upper EX-111, sweet fruity, medium-bodied all-round tea
> TD29 Risheehat DJ-24, fine floral, smooth First Flush tea
> TD90 Puttabong Supreme DJ-6, green, fine floral, smooth FF. Fine very
> green leaf.
> TD58 Okayati DJ-10, fruity,a bit vegetal smooth tea with traces of
> floral and spicy tones.
> TD63 Arya DJ-1, fine green floral FF.Very green and fine leaf .
> TD68 Puttabong DJ-271, sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth tea
> (SF)
> TD59 Orange Valley DJ-74, sweet, fruity with hints of citrus, smooth
> tea
> TD88 Orange Valley DJ-4, sweet, honey-like flavor.Very green,fine
> leaf.
> TD62 Arya DJ-61, sweet, fruity average SF
> TD37 North Tukvar DJ-19, fine floral good FF
> TD91 Puttabong Supreme DJ-53, fine floral, smooth FF
> TD54 Namring Upper EX-16, fine floral and fruity, very smooth tea.
> Very good all-round Darjeeling tea.
> 4) Poor quality tea:
> TD92 Sungma DJ-163, unpleasant off-flavor
> It's not so bad. In fact, all these teas are drinkable with the only
> one exception (TD92).
>
> Karel Valter

Michael,

Actually, Upton just sent an order of the DJ79 and DJ84 from the Makaibari
Estate, and I can attest to their quality. I cannot order from a German
supplier for comparison, but these are very good - as good as Kyela Teas,
although Kevin seems to concentrate on first flush and the Makaibaris are
seconds, and for their quality the price is reasonable.

BTW, Kyela's Gopaldhara DJ29 Oolong First Flush 2004 is, IMHO, excellent. I
got 50g and will probably go back for more. Very bright and well-balanced,
fruity and long. This is probably the best Darjeeling oolong I've tasted to
date.

Regards,
Dean

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Karel,
>
> I'd be very surprised if Darjeelings available here are generally as good
as
> those available in Germany and in your country. Nonetheless, Kyela Teas in
> Canada is a better bet for comparison. I wouldn't expect too much from
Upton
> in any event.
>
> I would have steeped less time and used just a bit more tea. But, that's a
> personal preference.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> Karel 11/7/04
>
>
> > This year, Upton Tea Imports proposes more than 40 different
> > Darjeelings. I decided to check more than half of them to see if the
> > other side of Atlantic has something better to offer in this field
> > than Old Europe. I describe briefly the results of my tasting which
> > are quite subjective and certainly influenced by my personal taste.
> > Samples (2 grams) were steeped for 4 min. in tap water (180 ml, 95?)
> > filtered with Britta filter.
> > The 25 tasted samples may be separated into four following groups:
> > 1) Fine but rather pricey teas:
> > TD93 Castleton DJ-124, fine fruity flavor with overtones of exotic
> > wood. Light muscatel SF tea. Very fine tea.
> > TD83 Namring EX-5, sweet complex floral and smooth FF. Very fine tea.
> > TD77 Phuguri Tippy DJ-13, fine floral, "sweet green almond", flavor,
> > smooth cup
> > TD97 Sungma DJ-5, fine, complex floral flavor. Fine green leaf.
> > 2) Very good, not overly expensive teas:
> > TD23 Puttabong DJ-91 fine floral smooth Second Flush
> > TD67 Puttabong DJ-94, fine floral, spicy, smooth Second Flush. Very
> > green leaf for SF tea (In-between-like). Better than TD91.
> > TD26 Nagri DJ-10, sweet floral (jasmine-like) smooth tea. Fine leaf.
> > TD31 Margaret's Hope DJ-33, rather rich sweet floral-fruity flavor,
> > smooth cup. Fine leaf.
> > TD51 Avongrove DJ-44, sweet, fruity with hints of exotic wood and a
> > trace of muscatel, darker cup. Good everyday DJ tea.
> > 3) Good, average teas, sometimes more expensive than those in the
> > group No2:
> > TD52 Jogamaya Second Flush , sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth
> > tea, gives rather dark cup, reminds classic SF type tea, good and
> > economic everyday tea. Fine leaf.
> > TD65 Phuguri DJ-91, fine fruity and smooth SF
> > TD27 North Tukvar DJ-53 sweet, floral, green medium-bodied and smooth
> > tea. Fine green leaf.
> > TD54 Namring Upper EX-111, sweet fruity, medium-bodied all-round tea
> > TD29 Risheehat DJ-24, fine floral, smooth First Flush tea
> > TD90 Puttabong Supreme DJ-6, green, fine floral, smooth FF. Fine very
> > green leaf.
> > TD58 Okayati DJ-10, fruity,a bit vegetal smooth tea with traces of
> > floral and spicy tones.
> > TD63 Arya DJ-1, fine green floral FF.Very green and fine leaf .
> > TD68 Puttabong DJ-271, sweet, fruity, medium-bodied and smooth tea
> > (SF)
> > TD59 Orange Valley DJ-74, sweet, fruity with hints of citrus, smooth
> > tea
> > TD88 Orange Valley DJ-4, sweet, honey-like flavor.Very green,fine
> > leaf.
> > TD62 Arya DJ-61, sweet, fruity average SF
> > TD37 North Tukvar DJ-19, fine floral good FF
> > TD91 Puttabong Supreme DJ-53, fine floral, smooth FF
> > TD54 Namring Upper EX-16, fine floral and fruity, very smooth tea.
> > Very good all-round Darjeeling tea.
> > 4) Poor quality tea:
> > TD92 Sungma DJ-163, unpleasant off-flavor
> > It's not so bad. In fact, all these teas are drinkable with the only
> > one exception (TD92).
> >
> > Karel Valter
>

DPMJFPjd.81$Bj2.18@trndny0111/8/04

> Michael,
>
> Actually, Upton just sent an order of the DJ79 and DJ84 from the Makaibari
> Estate, and I can attest to their quality. I cannot order from a German
> supplier for comparison, but these are very good - as good as Kyela Teas,
> although Kevin seems to concentrate on first flush and the Makaibaris are
> seconds, and for their quality the price is reasonable.
>
> BTW, Kyela's Gopaldhara DJ29 Oolong First Flush 2004 is, IMHO, excellent. I
> got 50g and will probably go back for more. Very bright and well-balanced,
> fruity and long. This is probably the best Darjeeling oolong I've tasted to
> date.
>
> Regards,
> Dean


Dean,

It's good news to hear that Darjeeling recovered from its slow and painful
start this year. It's especially good to hear your praise of Kyela's
Gopaldhara, a garden that has produced some of my favorites in the past.

Michael

Karel 11/9/04


snip

>>
>> Dean,
>>
>> It's good news to hear that Darjeeling recovered from its slow and painful
>> start this year. It's especially good to hear your praise of Kyela's
>> Gopaldhara, a garden that has produced some of my favorites in the past.
>>
>> Michael
>>
> Hi,
> you are right, here (particularly in Germany) one may get very fine
> Darjeelings at very acceptable price. The best that I tasted were
> still better than the best of Upton's but cost only half of the price.
> The problem is that most these vendors does'nt allow the sampling of
> their stock.
> I appreciate Kyela Teas, but unfortunately, for unknown reason my
> orders were quite often delayed (morethan 3 months) or simply lost
> forever. It's not problem of KT. I imagine that some stupid custom
> officer take these teas for some other prohibited plants.
> Thanks for your feedback
> Karel Valter

Karel,

Kyela is not as prompt as they perhaps should be. But, here in North America
I have never had the problem to the extent you describe. I am under the
impression that Germany is an excellent source of high quality Darjeeling in
general.

Michael
>

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 11:28:30 GMT, Michael Plant >
wrote:

>DPMJFPjd.81$Bj2.18@trndny0111/8/04
>
>> Michael,
>>
>> Actually, Upton just sent an order of the DJ79 and DJ84 from the Makaibari
>> Estate, and I can attest to their quality. I cannot order from a German
>> supplier for comparison, but these are very good - as good as Kyela Teas,
>> although Kevin seems to concentrate on first flush and the Makaibaris are
>> seconds, and for their quality the price is reasonable.
>>
>> BTW, Kyela's Gopaldhara DJ29 Oolong First Flush 2004 is, IMHO, excellent. I
>> got 50g and will probably go back for more. Very bright and well-balanced,
>> fruity and long. This is probably the best Darjeeling oolong I've tasted to
>> date.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dean
>
>
>Dean,
>
>It's good news to hear that Darjeeling recovered from its slow and painful
>start this year. It's especially good to hear your praise of Kyela's
>Gopaldhara, a garden that has produced some of my favorites in the past.
>
>Michael
>
Hi,
you are right, here (particularly in Germany) one may get very fine
Darjeelings at very acceptable price. The best that I tasted were
still better than the best of Upton's but cost only half of the price.
The problem is that most these vendors does'nt allow the sampling of
their stock.
I appreciate Kyela Teas, but unfortunately, for unknown reason my
orders were quite often delayed (morethan 3 months) or simply lost
forever. It's not problem of KT. I imagine that some stupid custom
officer take these teas for some other prohibited plants.
Thanks for your feedback
Karel Valter

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 11:28:30 GMT, Michael Plant >
wrote:

>DPMJFPjd.81$Bj2.18@trndny0111/8/04
>
>> Michael,
>>
>> Actually, Upton just sent an order of the DJ79 and DJ84 from the Makaibari
>> Estate, and I can attest to their quality. I cannot order from a German
>> supplier for comparison, but these are very good - as good as Kyela Teas,
>> although Kevin seems to concentrate on first flush and the Makaibaris are
>> seconds, and for their quality the price is reasonable.
>>
>> BTW, Kyela's Gopaldhara DJ29 Oolong First Flush 2004 is, IMHO, excellent. I
>> got 50g and will probably go back for more. Very bright and well-balanced,
>> fruity and long. This is probably the best Darjeeling oolong I've tasted to
>> date.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dean
>
>
>Dean,
>
>It's good news to hear that Darjeeling recovered from its slow and painful
>start this year. It's especially good to hear your praise of Kyela's
>Gopaldhara, a garden that has produced some of my favorites in the past.
>
>Michael
>
Hi,
you are right, here (particularly in Germany) one may get very fine
Darjeelings at very acceptable price. The best that I tasted were
still better than the best of Upton's but cost only half of the price.
The problem is that most these vendors does'nt allow the sampling of
their stock.
I appreciate Kyela Teas, but unfortunately, for unknown reason my
orders were quite often delayed (morethan 3 months) or simply lost
forever. It's not problem of KT. I imagine that some stupid custom
officer take these teas for some other prohibited plants.
Thanks for your feedback
Karel Valter

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Karel 11/9/04
>
>
[snip]

> Karel,
>
> Kyela is not as prompt as they perhaps should be. But, here in North
America
> I have never had the problem to the extent you describe. I am under the
> impression that Germany is an excellent source of high quality Darjeeling
in
> general.
>
> Michael
> >
Michael,

I get the distinct impression that Kevin IS Kyela Teas, and when he's on the
road, as he frequently is, there's no one minding the store.

Still, he has teas that no one else in NA seems to get (did you ever try his
Seeyok Silver Pearls?) and he always includes generous samples of other teas
in his stable, so it's worth the wait.

Regards,
Dean

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Karel 11/9/04
>
>
[snip]

> Karel,
>
> Kyela is not as prompt as they perhaps should be. But, here in North
America
> I have never had the problem to the extent you describe. I am under the
> impression that Germany is an excellent source of high quality Darjeeling
in
> general.
>
> Michael
> >
Michael,

I get the distinct impression that Kevin IS Kyela Teas, and when he's on the
road, as he frequently is, there's no one minding the store.

Still, he has teas that no one else in NA seems to get (did you ever try his
Seeyok Silver Pearls?) and he always includes generous samples of other teas
in his stable, so it's worth the wait.

Regards,
Dean

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 13:02:32 GMT, Michael Plant >
wrote:


>
>Karel,
>
>Kyela is not as prompt as they perhaps should be. But, here in North America
>I have never had the problem to the extent you describe. I am under the
>impression that Germany is an excellent source of high quality Darjeeling in
>general.
>
>Michael
>>
>
Michael,

I agree that in the recent past the Upton's has been offering only
average Darjeeling teas. Nevertheless, in 1997 I bought from them 6
really very fine teas (Singbulli Reserve, Chamong SF, Namring Upper
FF, Castleton SF etc.). These times their equivalents were hardly
available here in Europe. It was very hard time for any local
Darjeeling tea lover because even Betjeman& Barton, Harrods, Mariage
Fréres, Whittard, Der Teeladen etc. proposed poor Single Estate teas,
which had practically the same taste.
If you wanted to find 100 grams of good tea you finished with 2 kilos
of poor stuff and $300 wasted.
Yet only 3 years ago (in 1994) they had real gems we can now only
dream about.
Perhaps this story sounds familiar to you. Today I buy tea only from
the tea vendors who sell the samples of all their stock and I boycott
the others with only few exceptions (SRT and Kyela Teas overseas, 2
vendors in Germany and 4 vendors in the remaining Europe).
I believe that today the general situation is a bit better and Upton's
made an effort to improve their offer. Their TD93 Castleton DJ-124
(SF) and TD83 Namring EX-5 (FF) are eminently drinkable teas even for
the demanding tea lover like you. If not I owe you ten bucks!

Your are right that the steeping time and amount of tea is a matter
of the taste. The tea:water ratio and shorter steeping time you
suggest are excellent for very aromatic First Flush teas. This way you
get a really splendid cup of tea. Sometimes I use up to 4 g/180 ml and
only 2 minutes. It depends on the quality of the tea.
On the other hand, I believe that 4 minutes are the shortest steeping
time for the true muscatel Second Flush tea. Today, this particular
flavor is rather slow to appear in some teas. When chewing the infused
leaves you may often feel the remains of this flavor, which means the
steeping time should be a bit longer. Of course, this may make the tea
too harsh.
For this really short survey I steeped the teas in a row so I kept
the tea:water ratio and the steeping time constant.

Karel
P.S. I've just ordered Gopaldhara Oolong 29 from Kyela teas. I
couldn't resist Dean's description of it.
Michael, Germany is a very good source for tea but the german vendors
don't usually sell less than 100 g and many don't accept any credit
card.
You must usually pay the order in advance. Those who accept c.c. are
likely to be the vendors of the average or poor tea. Hope the
situation will evolve.

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 13:02:32 GMT, Michael Plant >
wrote:


>
>Karel,
>
>Kyela is not as prompt as they perhaps should be. But, here in North America
>I have never had the problem to the extent you describe. I am under the
>impression that Germany is an excellent source of high quality Darjeeling in
>general.
>
>Michael
>>
>
Michael,

I agree that in the recent past the Upton's has been offering only
average Darjeeling teas. Nevertheless, in 1997 I bought from them 6
really very fine teas (Singbulli Reserve, Chamong SF, Namring Upper
FF, Castleton SF etc.). These times their equivalents were hardly
available here in Europe. It was very hard time for any local
Darjeeling tea lover because even Betjeman& Barton, Harrods, Mariage
Fréres, Whittard, Der Teeladen etc. proposed poor Single Estate teas,
which had practically the same taste.
If you wanted to find 100 grams of good tea you finished with 2 kilos
of poor stuff and $300 wasted.
Yet only 3 years ago (in 1994) they had real gems we can now only
dream about.
Perhaps this story sounds familiar to you. Today I buy tea only from
the tea vendors who sell the samples of all their stock and I boycott
the others with only few exceptions (SRT and Kyela Teas overseas, 2
vendors in Germany and 4 vendors in the remaining Europe).
I believe that today the general situation is a bit better and Upton's
made an effort to improve their offer. Their TD93 Castleton DJ-124
(SF) and TD83 Namring EX-5 (FF) are eminently drinkable teas even for
the demanding tea lover like you. If not I owe you ten bucks!

Your are right that the steeping time and amount of tea is a matter
of the taste. The tea:water ratio and shorter steeping time you
suggest are excellent for very aromatic First Flush teas. This way you
get a really splendid cup of tea. Sometimes I use up to 4 g/180 ml and
only 2 minutes. It depends on the quality of the tea.
On the other hand, I believe that 4 minutes are the shortest steeping
time for the true muscatel Second Flush tea. Today, this particular
flavor is rather slow to appear in some teas. When chewing the infused
leaves you may often feel the remains of this flavor, which means the
steeping time should be a bit longer. Of course, this may make the tea
too harsh.
For this really short survey I steeped the teas in a row so I kept
the tea:water ratio and the steeping time constant.

Karel
P.S. I've just ordered Gopaldhara Oolong 29 from Kyela teas. I
couldn't resist Dean's description of it.
Michael, Germany is a very good source for tea but the german vendors
don't usually sell less than 100 g and many don't accept any credit
card.
You must usually pay the order in advance. Those who accept c.c. are
likely to be the vendors of the average or poor tea. Hope the
situation will evolve.