Archive for December, 2009
Words of Thanks-Fresh DarjeelingTea
Launch of FreshDarjeelingtea-online store and Thanks Giving.
More than a blog this is a letter of thanks and a dedication to all the people who have been an inspiration and somehow made me feel good about whatever I am doing online besides what I do normally with my business.
I never knew or had the slightest notion that social media networks would bring us so close that we can now share, exchange, promote ideas and put across views to people living in far off continents, share the same passion and above all, be recognized.
I was born in a small tea village in Namring and lived a blissful childhood in a serene place, Sikkim, and then, pursuing a career in tea, nothing was thought about or organized – it all happened like a rolling stone. I still feel like a child sometimes and compare myself with my 13-year-old daughter, but time flies away so fast as you must know my friends. I am writing this because now I have the opportunity to thank you on two counts, firstly, it is Thanks-giving times and secondly, to thank you for your compliments on the launch of our online store.
I started this blog from 25 March 2009. Before that I didn’t know what a blog was, and to be very honest, till very recently, I had no inkling that promotion was even possible through a blog. I just started with the intention of sharing my thoughts with the few people whom I thought knew something about Darjeeling Tea.
To begin with, I would like to thank Stephen, author of ‘Beating Cholesterol’, who hopped into my store in Goa and said, “Sonam, you need to start writing, so, where is your online presence?” Then my beautiful customers, mostly ladies, who savor my white teas always questioning me, “Sonam, can I buy online after I return home?” To my Russian friend Alex who took the pain to cover and feature me on a Russian Daily newspaper.
The aromas and fury of a Darjeeling muscatel is tried and tested. It is the muscatels’ that has given Darjeeling its identity. We believe that any tea lover or a novice who comes across a True Darjeeling Muscatel will never forget the experience.
It is quite rare to come across a true muscatel because this tea is borne out of a balance of many factors involved in the making. The seasons, the harmony of time of pickings and the art of processing, e.t.c.
It is a matter of pride for Tea masters from Darjeeling to mark their small invoices with this term because they know it is occasional. Only few invoices are marked so. All muscatels fetch a four figure digit prices even in the auctions.
Most muscatels are pre sold on prior arrangements with high end paymasters like Harrods.
It is not necessary that muscatels are produced only in the second flush or summer season but it is more pronounced then.
During this time of the year every garden in Darjeeling tries hard to make muscatels but few succeed.
The Gardens those are renowned for producing and exhibiting muscatels every year are Castleton, Margarets Hope, Balasun, Selimbong, Sungma, Jungpana, Makaibari, Ambootia.
