I want to separates my tea journey story in three different phases:
Tea in Bangladesh Tea in Qatar Tea in South Africa
As usual this tea journey contain tea stories and some cultural facts. My journey started from Mozambique-South Africa-Qatar-Bangladesh. I was going to visit Bangladesh after two years and I was excited to explore their latest tea plantation. Mozambique itself produce good quality black CTC tea which is very strong, sweet flavored. Mozambique is a huge country and all tea plantation are situated in North which is not easy to go. One way is to go by 4X4 drive or fly through US government owned private aircraft "AirServe". US government has some development projects in that area which is located next to Malawi fresh water lake area and through these development program I have build some friendship with some growers. They had offered me many good quality tea. They allowed me to blend their tea with many other Chinese, Bangladeshi and Ceylon tea. They also asked my help to bring a tea planter from Bangladesh who can help them to produce some clone tea and help them to improve their marketing. Of course I took the offer with pleasure. They gave me four types of black tea which I was selected as Mozambican tea ambassador to Bangladesh.
Tea in Bangladesh:
After a day and half flight when the plan landed in Zia International airport I was getting very excited because after all I was born to this beautiful country. It was a wonderful feeling. When I was to the immigration the immigration officer didn't even wanted to check my foreign passport. He just smile and say- "Welcome to Bangladesh, enjoy your stay. No matter what you are always one of us." Hey, this I call Bangladeshi hospitality. My brother was waiting outside to receive me from the airport and that was another touchy feeling to meet my brother again who always encouraged me about my tea research. It was almost dinner time and I had very rich food Biriani(Fried rice with goat meat), Borhani(This is Bangladeshi traditional yogurt drink, sort of Arab Laban,Ayran or Arke but spicy) and Chicken masala. After two years I had this food, I wasn't feeling very well. My sister-in-law(a real tea lover) prepared a cup of Bangladeshi Black pearl SFTGFOP 1 black tea. The tea was so brisk, fruity and sweet flavored which was a week old production. Rest of the night was telling them my adventure in Africa.
I woke up 10:00 AM next day, hey that was my R&R-:) I went their to relax not work. I called my tea friends though they knew I was coming to visit them. One of my friend came to pick me up around afternoon and drove me to a Bagan Bari (It is a villa next to a river with hundreds of flower beds). Another sentimental moment to be with all my tea friends. This time their group even became bigger, total 47 people. All of them have different profession but they all love tea. My friend Rabbi created a blend "Lord Ripon's blend" for my memory which is also one of my blend but who cares about trade mark. The tea was blended of two different tea from North(the foothill of Himalaya) and South-East(Boarder with Burma and Chinese Yunnan province is just one and half hour flight). They are very different teas though both are black tea. The tea from North represent Darjeeling flavor with more fruity taste. Some tea mailers remember the sample I shared with them. The tea from South-West was more of a mix taste of Yuanan(Dian Hong) and Assam. Both were organic tea and very limited production. These two tea straight goes to European market, mainly Scandinavian. Then we had a new black tea from Sylet(The mail tea producing area just next to Assam). This tea planter is a Bangladeshi-British who himself is a lawyer who never goes to the court. He build this small tea estate inside an orange garden which gives the tea leaves a tangy flavor with sweet, very refreshing aroma. He is a highly intellectual person, very knowledgeable and a educated world traveler. He doesn't have any tea education. All he does dream and share with his planter. He still not very much interested about export market but his son seems more business minded. I was impressed to talk with this young man who is a MIT graduate and trying to create a new tea processing machine. I was very lucky to meet a 21st centuries Bangladeshi visionary young man and the bonus was to met his wonderful Lebanese wife. We spend in that villa until mid night. I was there almost a month so I have many tea stories. I don't want the readers to be bored. Maybe the stories are very interesting to me, it might not be interesting to you. This time I also discovered their is a direct flight from Dhaka(Bangladesh)-Yunnan(China) which brought these teo tea producer country close to each other. Yunnan tea is also avilable in Bangladesh market. It also increased the businiess between two countries around $5 billion.
The main discovery was the country improved a lot last two years as well as tea production. The country is transforming from a leading garments industry to a pharmaceutical and software maker. I hope these two new sector will help the country to get rid off poverty. US involvement is huge in the development sector and it was also wonderful to visit our old folks who are working for the US mission over there.
Tea in Qatar:
Qatar is a small, oil rich Arab country which surprised me with their newly reformed democracy. The education minister is a woman and many other municipal political leaders are also woman. They voting right to choose their MPs and the world famous news network Al-Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar. The flight from Bangladesh to Qatar was very long but my first class ticket helped me to have a good night sleep with Arab mint tea and Laban.
Qatar is another uprising Dubai(U.A.E) and the city is just next to the ocean. Beautifully decorated with man made flower bedding. They import all these flower plants from Holland. I always have strong weakness from Arab culture, food and mint tea. When I arrived in my hotel, I had get down 15 meter away from the main entrance. Though Al-Jazera have the reputation to broadcast anti Iraq war news but it is one of the most American friendly Arab nation. They protect American establishment with great care. My hotel Marriot is an American chain that's why they have this high alert security. I am used to with strict security system in Mozambique because I live inside a fort style US government compound which became part of my daily life. But as an American civilian, you might feel uncomfortable with security system in Qatar. The hotel welcomed us with a wonderful drink. I forgot the name but it was 50% lemon juice, 50% water and sugar concentrate and lots of freshly chopped mint. Ah, what a taste. They ask me if I need anything special. I said yes- "Qatar style tea." They offered me two types "Cha Nana" and "Cha Nume Basra".
I booked my wife name to the health spa and hired a nanny for my two little kids so I can go to explore the city. One of my friend worked in the US embassy their who always send me updated news and he is a huge supporter of Arab democracy. Unfortunately, he had to leave the post for a regional conference. Anyway nothing can stop me so I have decided to go to City Centre(Qatar's largest shopping mall). City Centre is full of foreigners, specially the US marine who come here for R&R from Iraq. They want peace and doesn't want to go to bustling commercial Dubai. Their is also a man made island next to the city and any sort of swimming suits are allowed,include Greek style-:) I was impressed to see their democracy reform process and the right for woman. Man and woman are working together side by side no hesitation.
The City centre entrance welcomed me with an advertisement of Starbuck. Wow, after two long years. I miss Frapaccino Mocha.. here I come Starbuck. The huge shock was waiting for me inside the cafe. The StarBuck cafe was full of Americans- diplomats, marines and investors. Not a bad idea to start with political news. I am always a very easy going person so it was very easy for me to find some friends and end up with two hours political chat. The end was not so good when a young Marine folk was pointing his finger to me again and again. He was trying to say we diplomatic core are not doing enough for Iraq crisis. I was unable to explain to him, we have nothing to do with it. We work in Africa mission and our work is fully development. Anyway, I also understood his stress and home sickness. But couple of Marine showed me their family picture and ask where they can find woman. Oh, remind me the movie Born in the forth of July or Miss Saigon. I tried to express my respect to them who are serving our nation far away from home. I have no comment about this war. I think I know very little about this crisis to draw a conclusion. This not my decision.
I did some shopping. I bought some antique dagger, a nice Moroccan silver tea set with six tea glasses and one Afghani carpet. Then I stop by in a traditional Arab Moorish style Cafe. The Cafe is beautifully decorated with Arab style carpets, hand made wooden curving furniture. The fresh Coffee smell wanted me to kill me but I choose Cha Nana(Mint green tea with one cardamom) and Cha Nume Basra(dried lime with Ceylon). I don't speak Arabic so I couldn't find that much but I understand little word here and there. I felt Qatari people are well aware of world politics and they also enjoy good art. It was just interesting to listen to their conversation and sip tea.
As planed I had a wonderful, romatic dinner with my wife with Seesh kabob, Hamos, Tabuli, Baba Ganus with freshly backed Arab bread. We end up with a cup of Cardamom tea.
Tea in South Africa:
Well being in Mozambique means being in South Africa. We go to South Africa once or twice a month. The South African tea culture is very English. I had a good cup of English Break fast and Earl Grey. I will write some other time. I am getting tired of this long e-mail.
I know I haven't write about my tea in Swaziland yet but I will. My work took away all of my free time. I was very glad to spend a full month in Bangladesh and I will write more detail about Bangladeshi tea.
Hope you enjoy my tea journey. More on the way, stay tuned. Ripon Maputo, Mozambique