Cheap'n'cheerful Indian CTC

With a nod to Jim...

When people ask me where to get "normal" tea (by which they usually mean EBT or Early Grey) in bags, I generally recommend an Indian grocery store. They seem to have English-quality black tea at a fraction of American prices. (Not that I'd ever buy black tea in bags myself; just trying to be helpful and slightly mysterious.)

Finding myself down to my last 250g of Yorkshire Gold, and facing a predicted couple of feet of wet snow to be plowed, I wondered if they might also carry loose tea. I scoured all five of the Indian shops on one street in a nearby town. Mostly bags, I was sorry to see, and not much in the way of loose "workingman's tea" (as my Yorkshire uncle called it). Instead of trying Lipton or Brooke Bond, I asked if they had anything with more kick. Out of a half-dozen "native" selections, I was steered toward Mamri "Tea of Assam" at $2.49/400g, and Wagh Bakri "Strong CTC Leaf Tea" at $3.49/500g. Risky investment, I know, but one must take chances to learn.

The Assam, in several tastings, just didn't cut it: no real off-notes, but flat and lacking in top-notes or fragrance. I'll save it for seasoning pots, staining didgeridoos, etc. The Wagh Bakri is pretty drinkable, better than anything common here in bags and certainly adequate for bull-drinking or iced tea when comes the season.

Don't think I'd buy either again, when Yorkshire Gold is £1.69 at Sainsbury's (and the dollar's up). But a worthwhile experiment. And fun to buy two pounds of any kind of tea for the price of a gram of decent sheng Pu-erh or ten of oolong.

-DM

Reply to
DogMa
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Ask for the Gulabi brand "kalami" full leaf tea. May be easier to find at a place catering to middle easterners than Indians. It's not strong stuff at all, but actually pretty subtle, a very pleasant morning cup, and in the same price range.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

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