Looking to try Darjeeling

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote in news:1132523608.453802.237150 @z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

Little India, Lex between 28th & 30th, where tourists & Pakistani cabdrivers both go to eat (usually at different places).

An Indian store -- I'm drawing a blank on the name -- on 28th between Lex & Park, downtown side of the street, has (or had a few weeks ago when I last visited) Lopchu Estate Darjeeling. Kalustyan's Spices on Lex itself

A good neighborhood to shop & eat in if you like foods from the Indian subcontinent. (6th Street between 1st & 2nd is another)

Darjeelings are known by the estate in which they were grown, otherwise I believe it's a blend. A warning: it's said that worldwide, more tonnes of tea are sold as Indian Darjeeling than Darjeeling produces, so beware of adulteration and fraudulent labeling.

Ozzy

I found this online:

It's relatively cheap and seems decent. Would I be making a big mistake?

I buy mine from

It's located in near NYC, from what I can tell.

Call Upton's... I think they have a website at uptonteas.com or something like that. They have a sampler that contains small amounts of a number of darjeelings of different grades.

--scott

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote in news:1132531524.331222.20370 @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

To be honest, I'd Darjeelings over the net. Unless someone on this list has warnings about englishteastore.com or Mim estate (which I've never tried, either), all I have to go on is a mild dislike of the catalog copy, which isn't really much. However, the out-the-door price would be apparently be only $8.15, you'll have it supposedly next week or next month -- how big a mistake could it be for 4 oz. of putative Darjeeling? The only drawback is, what if you really can't stand it?

In fact I ordered that sampler myself. Keep you advised of any snags. :)

Ozzy

It's in Tarrytown, a few stops up the river on the Hudson line (take the train at Grand Central). Go up the hill to Broadway and turn left.

dmh

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com snipped-for-privacy@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com1

Hi Andrew,

In Pursuit of Tea. They sell a nice Darjeeling through Whole Foods, although I don't particularly like Whole Foods, it answers your question. You can also order from IPOT on line or by telephone. Their operation is in Brooklyn. IPOT teas are also sold at the Rubin Museum (of Himalyan art), and at -- Lew, what's the name of that restaurant/tearoom in the East 20's? -- among other places I haven't yet discovered.

Michael

OzzyXns9714BA8986C73TheLoneAndLevelSands@216.196.97.14211/20/05

I found a paper wrapped Darjeeling in one of those shops labeled "1994" (or so, but I'm not far off, trust me) That was a year ago, or slightly more.

It might be fun to explore these stores, and the tins and packages are fun to look at. For good tea, go with IPOT. That's my advice.

Yup, food is usually OK, and some is actually quite good, and EVERY one of those restaurants is Bangla Deshi, no matter what they say.

Truer words were never spoken -- to the tune of ten to one. And much of that phoney Darjeeling ends up in the Indian grocery stores of American cities.

None of this is to say that Ozzy is wrong; you can get decent teas in such shops, and the fun of exploration awaits you.

Michael

Even if you buy sealed tins of Lipton or Brooke Bond Darjeeling teas? That would mean that either

a. Reputable companies like Lipton or Brooke Bond are lying or b. The packages are fake

or both.

Time to sic Eliot Spitzer on the tea industry !!! :-)

One of the regular posters here gave me some of the Himalayan BOP from Upton's.

It's better Darjeeling than most Darjeeling that actually is Darjeeling.

Hmm... perhaps this needs brackets....

It's better Darjeeling than most [Darjeeling that actually is Darjeeling].

--scott

If you are considering purchasing on the web, the Assam Tea Company

Good luck with your search. Tom (no connection with the Assam Tea Company except as a satified customer)

I'll second Upton

Dean

Andrew,

Why not check out In Pursuit of Tea.

I really like their Goomtee Estate 2nd Flush. I brew 4.2 grams in 10 oz.

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote: