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Karen
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 123
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 Posted: Jul 13, 2007 9:44 pm Post subject: Darjeeling Whites |
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| Is anyone familiar with the high-end white teas being produced in Darjeeling and Ceylon? |
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Chip
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji, purging looters
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| Posted: Jul 13, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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The Ceylon silver tips I had was amazing, and $$$. But I am glad I tried it once. If it is less than around 25 bucks for 2 oz, be suspicious. You get what you pay for with this rather rare tea.
Darjeeling whites...I truly enjoy Darjeeling tea, but it seems no matter what you get, black, oolong, green or white just tastes like Darjeeling. That said, it is worth trying, both green and white...just ask for harvest info before you buy since I have already had flavorless Darjeeling white and green that I am certain was simply old. |
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Karen
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Joined: 13 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| Chip wrote: | The Ceylon silver tips I had was amazing, and $$$. But I am glad I tried it once. If it is less than around 25 bucks for 2 oz, be suspicious. You get what you pay for with this rather rare tea.
Darjeeling whites...I truly enjoy Darjeeling tea, but it seems no matter what you get, black, oolong, green or white just tastes like Darjeeling. That said, it is worth trying, both green and white...just ask for harvest info before you buy since I have already had flavorless Darjeeling white and green that I am certain was simply old. |
Chip, you know EVERYTHING!  |
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Chip
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| Karen wrote: | | Chip, you know EVERYTHING! |
...  , but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. |
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Karen
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Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| Chip wrote: | | Karen wrote: | | Chip, you know EVERYTHING! |
... , but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. |
Oh, my!  |
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spacesamurai
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 204
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| I had a darjeeling bai mu dan from Makaibari. It was good, but I felt it was still inferior to a Chinese white. |
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Karen
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| spacesamurai wrote: | | I had a darjeeling bai mu dan from Makaibari. It was good, but I felt it was still inferior to a Chinese white. |
Oh, wow--and their stuff is supposed to be great (I have to note that I'm very impressed that they took the estate organic--quite an undertaking). That's good to know.
Ito-en carries a very high-grade second-flush white that I think might be identical to one that Rishi carries which they market as a black. Since Ito-en is here in Manhattan, I might just give it a try. |
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syntheticpanda
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 198
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 7:41 am Post subject: |
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I have noticed that all Darjeeling teas just tend to taste like Darjeeling. (Which makes me wonder... do all Chinese teas taste like China but we're so accustomed that we don't realize it? Hmm...)
Anyway, I've noticed a couple other things about Darjeeling teas. First, they never seem to last for as many infusions as comparable Chinese teas. Second, the wet leaf of Darjeeling tea smells awful! Have you guys noticed this too? I wonder why... |
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Karen
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Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 8:06 am Post subject: |
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| syntheticpanda wrote: | I have noticed that all Darjeeling teas just tend to taste like Darjeeling. (Which makes me wonder... do all Chinese teas taste like China but we're so accustomed that we don't realize it? Hmm...)
Anyway, I've noticed a couple other things about Darjeeling teas. First, they never seem to last for as many infusions as comparable Chinese teas. Second, the wet leaf of Darjeeling tea smells awful! Have you guys noticed this too? I wonder why... |
LOL
Actually, I really like a lot of the Chinese teas I've tried (you're pretty safe buying these from Rishi, but I want to try Seven Cups) and don't find any sameness.
I don't think I've ever tried Darjeeling tea of any stripe; given that I like white and green teas, I was intrigued to learn that there were Indian options available. Given that they're not cheap, I thought I'd pick some brains first. |
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syntheticpanda
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 198
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Haha yeah I was joking around about the Chinese teas tasting like China thing... I guess I couldn't resist. 
Most of the estate Darjeeling tea you see sold as black tea is closer to oolong, if that is of any interest to you. It's sort of like an Oriental Beauty, more oxidized than most oolongs but less than black teas. |
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spacesamurai
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 204
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Don't get me wrong, I love Makaibari. I am a huge supporter of Fair Trade, so I buy all of my Darjeelings from them. Buth they're right; I've had just about everything that estate offers, and it all tastes like Darjeeling. |
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Chip
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji, purging looters
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| spacesamurai wrote: | | Don't get me wrong, I love Makaibari. I am a huge supporter of Fair Trade, so I buy all of my Darjeelings from them. Buth they're right; I've had just about everything that estate offers, and it all tastes like Darjeeling. |
Makaibari, and Arya are organic estates and perhaps as good an example of what good organic can taste like. Why can't China and Japan match the progress of these 2 growers? And talk about incredible dry leaf aroma, smells like a fruit basket.
But anyway, I have had excellent green and white from both estates, but they do taste like Darjeeling (something it seems we all agree upon). They can be rather costly also. Upton has offerings worth checking out, BUT ASK FOR HARVEST INFO BEFORE BUYING. I have my own personal issues with Upton over this issue.
I should include some of these in my tea menu. I have reduced the amount of Chinese green I buy and drink considerably (I won't get into why here...lol...unless someone asks)...while increasing the amount of Japanese tea I buy and drink. Darjeeling could provide me with a little variety. |
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syntheticpanda
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 198
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: |
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| Also, Lochan Tea might be worth checking out. Haven't tried this vendor myself, but I hear good things about it. I believe they have a Makaibari green from 2007 second flush. |
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Karen
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 9:59 am Post subject: |
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| Chip wrote: | | Makaibari, and Arya are organic estates and perhaps as good an example of what good organic can taste like. Why can't China and Japan match the progress of these 2 growers? |
China seems to have a number of such growers now. And some Japanese growers are moving in that direction, too. I guess it's not so easy.
| Quote: | | But anyway, I have had excellent green and white from both estates, but they do taste like Darjeeling (something it seems we all agree upon). They can be rather costly also. Upton has offerings worth checking out, BUT ASK FOR HARVEST INFO BEFORE BUYING. I have my own personal issues with Upton over this issue. |
I must try these at some point. My education depends on it! |
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Karen
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Jul 14, 2007 10:00 am Post subject: |
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| syntheticpanda wrote: | | Also, Lochan Tea might be worth checking out. Haven't tried this vendor myself, but I hear good things about it. I believe they have a Makaibari green from 2007 second flush. |
Thanks for the tip! |
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