From Newsgroup: rec.food.drink.tea

I love Darjeelings but have found it tricky to shop for them. I've mainly gone for 2nd flush from good estates --- Thurbo, Namring, etc,. -- and any affordable Castleton deals. I don't have a good framework for choosing among them I generaly reckon I'll have to pay $80 a pound as entry price. I've tried broken leaf and a few blends but I really want the special surprise of the really good DJs. I've also gravitated to Nepalese Gold and a few standout estates like Guranse.
I'd welcome guides and opinions. Also, any opinions on Teabox which seems to be a potential game changer -- I tried a couple of their samples and was pleased by just how quickly the order arrived from India and the packaging. Are there other online providers that I should look at?
Thanks for any inputs
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From Newsgroup: rec.food.drink.tea

On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 5:19:45 PM UTC-4, mandy george wrote:

I love Darjeelings but have found it tricky to shop for them. I've mainly gone for 2nd flush from good estates --- Thurbo, Namring, etc,. -- and any affordable Castleton deals. I don't have a good framework for choosing among them I generaly reckon I'll have to pay $80 a pound as entry price. I've tried broken leaf and a few blends but I really want the special surprise of the really good DJs. I've also gravitated to Nepalese Gold and a few standout estates like Guranse.

I'd welcome guides and opinions. Also, any opinions on Teabox which seems to be a potential game changer -- I tried a couple of their samples and was pleased by just how quickly the order arrived from India and the packaging. Are there other online providers that I should look at?

Thanks for any inputs

Many thanks, Wes. Helpful and fuels my interest in exploring more. I just got Teabox's Darjeeling samples -- 66 teas. I'm a bit like the kid and the candy store. It's a superb mix and I find that it is both fun and perhaps even necessary to vary your pick, whereas with greens and whites I tend to stick with a few favorites. Darjeelings have so many shades of taste and I love that tension between the full and the subtle. So far, I haven't found a DJ oolong that stands out -- the lack that aftertaste complexity that can have me sitting up -- no grabbers so far.
My next exploration is a few Assams. The estate labels don't seem worth the exra money and they so often seem on the edge of harshness.
I will chec out the supplers youmention.
Mandy
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From Newsgroup: rec.food.drink.tea

On 07/04/2015 5:04 PM, mandy george wrote:

On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 5:19:45 PM UTC-4, mandy george wrote:

I love Darjeelings but have found it tricky to shop for them. I've
mainly gone for 2nd flush from good estates --- Thurbo, Namring,
etc,. -- and any affordable Castleton deals. I don't have a good
framework for choosing among them I generaly reckon I'll have to
pay $80 a pound as entry price. I've tried broken leaf and a few
blends but I really want the special surprise of the really good
DJs. I've also gravitated to Nepalese Gold and a few standout
estates like Guranse.

I'd welcome guides and opinions. Also, any opinions on Teabox which
seems to be a potential game changer -- I tried a couple of their
samples and was pleased by just how quickly the order arrived from
India and the packaging. Are there other online providers that I
should look at?

Thanks for any inputs

Many thanks, Wes. Helpful and fuels my interest in exploring more. I
just got Teabox's Darjeeling samples -- 66 teas. I'm a bit like the
kid and the candy store. It's a superb mix and I find that it is both
fun and perhaps even necessary to vary your pick, whereas with greens
and whites I tend to stick with a few favorites. Darjeelings have so
many shades of taste and I love that tension between the full and the
subtle. So far, I haven't found a DJ oolong that stands out -- the
lack that aftertaste complexity that can have me sitting up -- no
grabbers so far.

My next exploration is a few Assams. The estate labels don't seem
worth the exra money and they so often seem on the edge of
harshness.

I will chec out the supplers youmention.

Mandy

If I may add a comment. I have devoured various Darjeeling teas for
decades. At present, I find nothing superior to a fresh Namring Estate.
Year-old teas are generally quite drinkable and good value, but do not compete in flavour with current year teas.

Chimera

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From Newsgroup: rec.food.drink.tea

This past week I received 2015 First Flush Black Teas from Teabox and GoldenTipsTea and 3 White FF Darjeelings.
So far, I have been alittle underwhelmed with them.
They did not measure up to the First Flush Black teas from Silvertipstea I received last year. They have not received their FF yet.
The leaves have been broken(and small) and not as fragrant


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