ARCHIVE FOR September 2013

The autumn Darjeelings are arriving!

27 September 2013
The autumn Darjeelings are arriving!

At the moment I’m tasting some delicious teas from Darjeeling. The autumn harvest (third flush) is early, and I have just chosen a Phuguri DJ168 as well as a Margaret’s Hope Pure Clonal DJ512; both are quite exceptional. They should arrive in France in about 10 days. As connoisseurs know, and to simplify a little, autumn Darjeelings are generally more woody than summer Darjeelings (second flush), which in turn are fruitier than spring Darjeelings (first flush). Whatever the season, though, these teas grow on mountains that offer breathtaking views.

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Small plantation in the south of Sri Lanka

20 September 2013
Small plantation in the south of Sri Lanka

From one country to another, one region to another, the organisation of tea production varies. Sometimes I visit huge plantations that cover whole mountainsides. But many independent farmers grow their own tea plants around their house, like here in the south of Sri Lanka.

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Political turmoil in Darjeeling

13 September 2013
Political turmoil in Darjeeling

Don’t you think this landscape evokes calmness and tranquillity? Yet I took the photo in Darjeeling, a region that has been in political turmoil for more than 30 years. At regular intervals the local party calls for strikes in the hope of achieving some autonomy in the Indian Union, and the creation of a new state, Gorkhaland. Nowadays, all roads in the region are blocked, and the shops are shut.

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A very special tea plantation

6 September 2013
A very special tea plantation

Some tea plantations are really worth a detour. The one pictured here is situated on a tiny island off the coast of China. It is deserted apart from a handful of inhabitants and a few wild sheep. The island has an atmosphere of profound and palpable harmony.

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