Right? No? You really want to know? Go do your own research. This is a good place to start if you are, as I am, drinking teas that have lots of information accompanying them. Lochan Tea Limited is an amazing source for Indian teas and just as importantly, for a tea-drinkers ongoing education into the harvesting and welfare of the teas and the people who work so hard to bring them to us.
My favorite so far is a Darjeeling called Giddapahar SFTGFOP 1 Ch Musk. Do I know what all of that means? I do not. I do know it is by far my favorite of all the Darjeelings I have ever tried, and for this newbie, that is what is most important! I know I will never again drink supermarket Darjeelings, that Lochan and Giddapahar will be the words on my lips and in my thoughts when it is time to buy Darjeeling. A few other facts I have gleaned are as follows. I know that Giddapahar is on a mountain and the garden from which this tea comes from is almost 5,000 feet above sea level. I have been told the tea plants that grow there are quite delicate due to lower temperatures here and the amount of mist that covers much of the area year round. The broth itself is full bodied, woody, sweet and floral and has a lovely warm brown coloration. As someone who is primarily a Gongfu Cha drinker adding milk to tea is somewhat of an anathema to me, but this tea is astoundingly decadent with a little almond milk and is terrific as a one minute brewed Gongfu Cha style tea as well.
I have so many more to try! More to come and this weeks tea sharing at my house will be this tea so come on over before it is all gone! Most of it was consumed post-thanksgiving supper and was perfection to all who indulged in it.
