Today I decided to do a side by side taste comparison of our Muscatel Valley, Darjeeling 2015 summer and autumn flushes. Comparison of teas, similar is some aspects (tea garden), but different in other (in this case, seasons), opens up our palate to the nuances of fine teas that we so enjoy.
2015 had some harsh notes in its finish. The shadow of terrorism and related conflicts, and climate change cast its long shadow across the world. Right here in Rochester, NY, a local was arrested hours before he could launch an alleged ISIS-inspired attack in a downtown pub on new year's eve. The city's fireworks were cancelled - like in many parts of the world - in the wake of the incident.
The historic Paris climate change conference will end this week. As experts argue and hussle, the big questions for us are: can we rise above our politics and economics to honor this gift of Mother Earth, and leave it better than we found it for those coming after us? Or are we doomed for self-extinction due to our greed and selfishness?
It was pandemonium at the Indo-Nepal border: long lines of trucks stalled on the Indian side, crowd milling through haywire traffic, groups of angry men yelling, motorists pounding on their horns, determined families dragging their children and luggage, garbage and dust flying all over.
Starting from 9/14/15 we will be keeping new hours at our Tea Studio located at the Hungerford Building.
Tuesday-Friday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Additionally on Friday 6:00 pm - 9 pm
Tea Classes & Special Events, Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 7:30pm
It has been a one complete cycle of tea seasons with Jun Chiyabari Tea Estate this summer. The tea we continue to receive from them, like the one we are reviewing here, tell us introducing Jun Chiyabari to our customers has been one of the best decisions.
We love these old ads for "tea." This one appeared in Ann Arbor Argus, 13 March 1891.
In a classified ad in another newspaper this same article claimed also to "loosen the bowels, thus breaking a cold at once," adding, "It is inexpensive and entirely vegetable, therefore harmless." Pre-FDA claims are so wonderfully imaginative. ;)
Thanks to the generous support of some Rochester residents, we managed to raise just over $3000 at the fundraiser for Nepal earthquake relief. The fundraiser was held last Saturday and was jointly hosted by us and the Rochester Brainery.
Together with the Rochester Brainery, we will be hosting a fundraiser for Nepal earthquake victims this Saturday. As many of you know, we have strong ties to Nepal, both in terms of our Nepali tea offerings and with our social partner Ama Foundation. The natural disaster there has left us heartbroken, but strongly determined to help.
