While I was in Calcutta, India I was in "Oberoi Grand Hotel". This is a 150 years old hotel and very popular to the foreign tea buyers. It is a very historic hotel in Calcutta with hundreds of old Calcutta's art. You can say the hotel also like a museum which represent the art and culture of British Empire. I can tell from those art- once Calcutta was the capital of British Empire in the sub-continent. I want to share some of my tea related experience with you:
When I checked in they asked me if I have any personal preferences, I said yes- a good tea set and some good loose tea. After finish my paper works (Approximately 5-10 minutes) when I entered in my room, I was so surprised to see my tea set and some loose fresh Darjeeling tea. There were also some tea bags with wonderfully warped. Cream color, elegantly designed tea bags- Finest Blend Tea bags: Specially packed for- The Oberoi Group. Usually I don't drink tea bags but somehow the beautifully warped tea bags attracted me. Each tea bags were 2 Grams NETT. Guess what- it was a wonderful blended Darjeeling tea. While I was brewing the tea bag with hot water my room was flooded with Darjeeling flowery aroma. I had Darjeeling tea bags before but none of them can ever challenge the aroma of Oberoi special blend tea bags. After this experience while I was in my hotel room, I never tried any other tea except this tea bags. I asked the hotel if I can buy some of this tea bags but they said only for the hotel guest. But the hotel was kind to provide 10 tea bags each day for me and I have saved sixty tea bags from them. I think tea bags can be also very good quality if the teas are fresh and blended by an expert blender. I tear one tea bag and found out the blend was combination of CTC and Orthodox(85:15 approximately). I have changed my thought about tea bags now. Now I personally believe tea bags depend on the quality, freshness and the expertise of a blender.
Ripon (Dhaka, Bangladesh)