Finally got some chance to scribble down some notes, elaborate and post it here. Actually to tell you the truth, twitter is getting me real hard and blogging on this blog is becoming secondary. Of course not, there is a difference between tweeting just 140 letters and infinity here. All important things go here, but important things which can be explained in less than 140 characters goes to twitter, so do follow me on twitter. I will share and would like to learn from you - twitter.com/darjeelingtea

Now the main thing - The delay in first flush (2009) is known to all. All know it by now that it was that egoistic rain that hampered it – rather ‘delayed it’ would be correct, but the ego couldn’t hold on for long and melted away seeing the miseries of people directly and indirectly involved - taking in consideration hundreds of poor Darjeeling tea garden laborers, tea merchants like us, tea connoisseurs etc. – this is a finger pointing towards the master above – Thanks buddy, you saved and made us retain ourselves. I will not delve into this First Flush matter again and make you ‘yawn’, but rather focus on what is coming next – the next big and famed Second Flush Darjeeling Tea season for 2009. First Flush started late; will this shift the upcoming second flush further down the line? Guess, the answer is ‘no’!

I am writing this post because one of my client, rather would honor her as a true tea connoisseur (and my friend who loves tea, but wouldn’t want to get deep into its science – she is kinda busy) asked me by personally calling over my cell phone – “I bet the second flush teas will have a hard time too because the whole year is a bad turnover for Darjeeling this time due to lack of rain, guess the second flush will get delayed due to delay in first flush”. Well, it’s a straight-away thinking and partially right if you are not involved in it deeply. The rains in Feb-March are important for both First Flush and Second Flush Darjeeling teas, but sometimes, it doesn’t play by the rules as it happened this year for first flush. There was a delay in First flush for about a month - will this result in dragging the second flush further down by one month? I guess not!

If it happens so, then we will have First Flush Darjeeling Teas for 2010 one month later from the original stipulated time for its growth – the whole Darjeeling tea production history will change and the seasonal teas will be not in the perfect seasons anymore. Maybe we will have autumn during the winter season which is known to be dormant, meaning no leaves on the tea bushes.

The cycle happens and the natural thing that is to happen will happen on its correct time, except for the unpredictable ingredients. First Flush production went down (in quantity), why? Because the time frame for its production was cut short before the “banji” period began. If it followed the so called “delay phenomenon” the banji would be appearing later, but it has already started and Second flush will be on time, provided all the things needed are in place and time. The banji period differs from one garden to another which is due to the difference in altitude of individual tea gardens. A tea garden can start its second flush production while the other can still be going through the banji period.

If “banji” needs to be explained here, it would take me another bite of the apple to gain energy and sort out the words. Will do if I am able to But for now, the backache is resting on my head

To sum up, no probs, we will have an excellent Second Flush for 2009 and getting your share of second flush Darjeeling teas 2009 wouldn’t be much of a problem. So tea cheers, keep sipping, be happy always!!