India – Page 17 – Discovering Tea

Expertise makes good tea

9 October 2012

Because I visit the production regions regularly I am able to stay abreast of changes that take place on the plantations.
I’ll give you an example: today, a garden like Runglee Rungliot is completely unknown among the public, and justifiably so – it does not produce good tea.
But for things to change radically, all it needs is an experienced planter to come and work at the garden. The tea plants, the altitude, the orientation: this place has it all, and one day it will produce top quality teas.

The expertise of a planter in Darjeeling

2 October 2012

Among the most experienced planters in Darjeeling, JD Rai is one of the best. I got to know him when he was in charge of the Margaret’s Hope estate.

This year I was delighted to see him again at the Thurbo plantation where he is now in charge. JD Rai is making some excellent teas there.
His expertise reaches beyond his own tea estate as he also supervises work on four or five other gardens.

And, unlike most planters in Darjeeling who come from the plains, JD Rai is from Darjeeling. He’s at home here.

People and itineraries crossing paths

28 September 2012

Life is about meeting people, about trajectories that follow one another or cross paths. Life is a path.

I dedicate this photo to Emilie who has looked after my blog since it started. I record my thoughts, but it is Emilie who presents them so beautifully. She gives them titles. She also searches through my many photos, sometimes cropping one for better effect. And she gives my writing a second life on the social networks.

Emilie is now taking another path, and I’ll miss her. I’d also like to thank her for the quality of her work. I hope she enjoys the road ahead. And I hope it is as beautiful as this one, which winds its way between the tea plants towards Darjeeling.

A familiar little train on my blog…

18 September 2012

The little train of Darjeeling is a familiar sight on my blog. It comes and goes whenever it pleases, without so much as a by-your-leave. And it doesn’t just do this on my pages either: look how casually it makes use of the road when it fancies! Other vehicles have to watch out when this train is about.

India: heavy rains cause landslides

14 September 2012

During the months of July and August there are heavy rains in Darjeeling, and many landslides occur in the weeks following the downpours. Sometimes you see a pretty little village that appears to be suspended over a ravine.

The tea plants you see in the foreground and on the slope itself are near Lingia.

Happy holidays to all my readers!

31 July 2012

With many of you currently heading out of town, I dedicate this photo to you, and hope you enjoy your holidays. As for me, I’m surrounded by nature all year round in the tea fields, and I’ll continue to bring you news throughout the summer. The tea plants won’t stop growing while you’re at the seaside. And don’t forget to prepare a flask of your favourite iced tea to keep you cool on the beach!

Tea pluckers bringing out their umbrellas

26 June 2012

With the weather we’ve had this June, there has been no need to worry about sunstroke. This is not the case everywhere. For example, in Darjeeling this season, when the pluckers have brought out their umbrellas it has been to protect themselves from the sun, not the rain. The women have good taste in their choice of bright, varied colours, making this landscape very similar to a cup of Darjeeling itself. Its floral, flowery, vegetal notes are a real treat for the palate.

Gopal Somani, his experience is worthy of respect

5 June 2012

Darjeeling teas harvested at this time of year have a very different bouquet to those plucked in the spring. Woody, fruity fragrances instead of vegetal aromas, for example. But their prestige is equally high, which is why I’m here, right now, selecting the best of them.

Every time I come to Darjeeling I make sure I visit Gopal Somani. We had lunch together on Saturday at his Puttabong plantation. He’s a wonderful man and his experience is worthy of respect: not only does he produce some of the best teas in the region, but he has also taught many other planters.

Eight students of the Tea School in Darjeeling

25 May 2012

Carine Baudry, who runs the Tea School, travelled to Darjeeling last month accompanied by eight of her students. What a trip! This was a first for Carine, who returned just as enchanted as her fellow travellers, to whom she introduced this magnificent region and the art of producing tea. Carine has often travelled with me in India, Japan and China. But this was the first time she’d had the pleasure of teaching in the production region itself.

On the right, in the blue shirt, is Rajiv Gupta, manager of the Tumsong plantation.

The first tea from “Delmas Bari” has just arrived

22 May 2012

It must be nearly 10 years since a plot of land on the North Tukvar estate was given my name. In high season, these hectares produce a remarkable tea thanks to the skill of the planter, of course, but also because of the quality of the tea plants selected. They are among my favourites.

For the first time, a single lot of tea from this plot has arrived in Paris. For fans of delicate, fruity, vegetal notes and the fragrance of white flowers, this is its name: Darjeeling North Tukvar DJ14 Delmas Bari.