Is SpecialTeas putting us on?

Question

I just got email from SpecialTeas touting this year's First Flush as a good one.

Viz, "SpecialTeas has a limited first shipment of the finest First Flush Darjeeling in years. Puttabong First-Flush Darjeeling FTGFOP1 (#105)".

Then they explain something not unexpected, that they only have 40 pounds to sell.

The email also has a few other Darjeelings.

So which way did the season go? The dryness has evidently limited supply, but they're saying it improved quality. Is that possible? Has something else caused this one tea to exceed every other they've retailed "in years"? Or are they putting a happy face on it because they're in dire straits because of the lack of supply?

--Blair

psyflake · Accepted Answer

Hi,on the tea´s page it says:"one of the best first flushes we havecupped THIS year" and IMHO that really doesn´t mean too much.Puttabong TE lies along the Rangit river close to the Sikkimese borderand has a few irrigated areas, so maybe those 40 pounds come fromirrgated plants. I posted a few lines on invoice #15 a couples weeksago, and while my vendor liked it a lot I didn´t think it was worththe price he asked for.Everything is possible but the better part of this years FF hasdefinetely suffered more than benefited from the lack of rain.Hey, 25 bucks for 1/4 pound, sounds like a steal.I guess they put us on with that one, and would go for a sample if atall.Karsten(looking forward to another cup of  2005 Thurbo FF that IMO tastesstill a lot better than most of this years FFs I was able to sample)

psyflake · Answer

Just been browsing a couple german tea sites for "Flugtees" (flown-in

2006 FFs). While there´s some selection now and the average prices considerably lower than 25 bucks/quarter pound (mostly around 10 Euro/12 Dollars per 100g) some of their descriptions are pretty hard to digest. On one of those pages I could find teas (same invoice) I have tried back in Darjeeling some weeks ago. Take for example the "Barnesbeg DJ-3", vendors description: "pale yellow, harmonious light cup with delicate notes of may lilies." 3 weeks ago my moody tea guru and I sampled that tea together with some Castletons and a Springside (Castleton B). His comment: he took a sip (shhhhlllrp) and poured the rest over the balcony.

However, there are some more FFs to discover so I emailed them for samples and asked if they ship internationally. I´ll report back.

Karsten

Linda · Answer

"(looking forward to another cup of 2005 Thurbo FF that IMO tastes still a lot better than most of this years FFs I was able to sample)"

I know this is a broad question, but what was the general consensus on

2005 2F?

Nils Lahmann · Answer

Yes, I understand that. Upon your first mention of this tea I bought some2005 Thurbo SF at a tea shop here in Germany and I liked it very much.Thanks!Nils

Is SpecialTeas putting us on?

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