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Sunday walk and a fickle mind’s stable decision

By on June 7, 2009 in Personal Ramblings

The Second Flush 2009 Darjeeling Tea season has started and the sourcing spree is a herculean task, yet filled with passion (thats what happens when you are in love with what you are doing Ahem!). We started from this weeks manufacture because it is from this week only, the real Second Flush character started showing up. Just a week before, tea samples sent to us proved to be light bodied when it shouldn’t be. Well, I will blog about it later, but for the meantime…

Haven’t been able to blog for quite sometime and today being a Sunday, thought I would take a stroll down to the Tibetan Refugees Self Help Center here in Darjeeling. Its not that I am going to this place for the first time, but every time I go and return, a ‘yearning’ is always there to go again. Maybe it’s the Tibetan culture and the Buddhist religion which I am so fond of.

It was not a pre-planned visit, just that the weather was fine and I had the camera in my bag. It was kind of a ‘walk’ thing and I was pondering upon my direction while having that local tea “milk and ctc”. Ah, Tibetan Refugees Self Help Center would be fine and I started walking. It’s a long way and people normally take a cab, but in a hilly area, you are never deprived of shortcuts – I took it.

On the way, down the narrow path from Chowrasta, numerous wall paintings can be perceived which are Buddhism oriented with some mixture of Hinduism on it. Do you know that Buddhism and Hinduism are related? Anyways, that’s a huge topic I have asked and there are tons of books on it – won’t delve deep, just wanna know ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Reached the center and sadly, as it was not my days plan, just a fickle mind’s stable decision at the wrong time – the manufacturing process of Tibetan carpets was unseen. Guess its because of Sunday, an off day. But a more interesting picture of people playing “Parasho” or “Sho” got my eye. SHO (they called “Parasho”) is an ancient traditional Tibetan Dice game comprising of 2 dice, throwing cup etc. supposed to be handmade. I said, why not have a closer look – was a rare find which one normally don’t get to see. Other times the center is flooded with tourists. Well, here the players mostly comprised of old people gambling in coins (photos included). Almost stood there observing for about an hour, had no idea what the rules are or who is the master there, just enjoyed the thrill and excitement which the players possessed.

Browse through the photos. Hope you enjoy them! Now I need a fresh cup of my new Second Flush 2009 Darjeeling Tea.

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Little more of Darjeeling Teas to You!

By on May 14, 2009 in darjeeling second flush, darjeeling second flush tea, Darjeeling Tea Offers, First Flush, New Tea Arrivals

Hello Friends, the big Spring season has ended and the bushes are now gearing up for the next big season i.e. Second Flush 2009. Darjeeling teas are known mainly for its First and Second Flush when all seem busy – the tea gardens, tea vendors like us and even tea connoisseurs seeking, searching and buying their favorite Darjeeling brews! Autumn also does play an important role, but in comparison is less popular. This statement is however, contradictory because there are tea connoisseurs who love Autumnal Darjeeling teas more than First and Second Flush. This is again a concern of individual palate and liking.

Anyways, won’t delve into the matter more, just wanted to inform you that we are giving away an Exclusive discount offer on our New First Flush 2009 teas for a limited amount of time – Just for 14 days – 20% Flat discount – Free Shipping on orders above USD49. Where can you get discounts on the new arrivals? Well, its right under your nose on Thunderbolt Tea’s website.

So Hurry, its just for 14 days and some of the teas are very very limited.

Happy Darjeeling Tea shopping!

Direct Link to First Flush Darjeeling Teas 2009

PS. I just returned from a visit to some of the tea gardens here in Darjeeling. Will update about it soon, it was a marvelous experience.

First FLush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009
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Will Second Flush 2009 Darjeelings delay due to previous delay in First Flush Teas?

By on May 2, 2009 in darjeeling second flush tea, Second Flush

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!!

Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya SFTGFOP1 Second Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009
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