Cheap Darjeelings

Sorry to make this quest a bit more arduous, but it really is possible to get insipid tea under the Makaibari label. The Makaibari I bought in a grocery store in a prosperous neighborhood in Calcutta late last winter, with no flush or year information on the package, had nothing that was unmistakably Darjeeling about it. It's quite possible, though, that Makaibari keeps tea like this from the export market.

/Lew

Lew,

Well, you're right: I've never bought Makaibari tea from any but (as far as I can tell) reputable online vendors like Upton. Who knows if the tea you bought even came from Makaibari or used a counterfeit label? I have heard from several individuals who live or have lived in India that the very best Darjeeling is exported because the estates can command a price that most of the domestic market will or cannot pay. Perhaps you're right though, that even estates like Makaibari may produce tea for the domestic market that would never make it for export.

Regards, Dean

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FWIW, here is a totally unsolicited plug (I have no commercial interest in this) for silvertips online store, that specializes in Makaibari (the owner of the store claims to be related to the owner of the estate !). I have had good experience with them and the price is also good.

replying to M�rten Nilsson, darjeelingtea wrote: You must have tried the powered bag ones or the loose leaf one which is why that is the case. Even loose leaf ones come in bad shape. Darjeeling Teas are the best Teas in the world. You weren't lucky enough to get the best deal.

Best Wishes.

Niranjan