I agree with you that the value of any product cannot be determined without
tasting it and comparing apples to apples. So your point is well-taken.
Ultimately, the value of any product is whatever the market will bear.
I have no interest in Silver Tips Tea Room, other than as a satisfied
customer. However, if you believe what they write in
http://www.silvertipstea.com/about_us.html
then it appears that the site is owned by the sister-in-law of the owner of
Makaibari estates. I'm assuming that this increases the probability that
they are selling genuine Makaibari products, as described on their product
description pages.Unfortunately, I am not in the financial position to be
able to sample and compare your products with theirs.
Good luck with your stores. Anything that promotes tea consumption,
especially in US, is a good thing.
--
Aloke
----
to reply by e-mail remove 123 and change invalid to com
> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Dear Mr. Prasad.
>
> I don't normally respond to these posts replies myself, but I had the
> unexpected luxury of a little free time this afternoon, so I figured
> I'd take a stab. The Makaibari Silver tips first flush we are offering
> is the last of that tea that has not already been purchased or sold
> elsewhere. Take a stroll around the internet and try to find it and
> you will see what we're talking about. Can you buy Makaibari FTGFOP1S
> silver tips somewhere else? In addition, if you manage to find it, how
> has it been stored? In a bag or some sort of "airtight" container?
> And is it the tea they are actually claiming it to be? Many places
> offering Darjeeling tea are reluctant to list the year of harvest, and
> it is quite telling to say the least. Kasora will always list flush
> years because they are important. And Kasora will always dispose of
> tea that is past its freshness window, no matter the financial loss.
> It is what our customers expect, and it is what they get.
>
> Darjeeling teas are extremely delicate teas. They require storage in
> airtight, inert gas environments, and after as little as six months
> they have already lost much of their precious spirit. You quote prices
> for a first flush 2005 tea that are low. As they should be for such an
> old tea, most likely stored under inferior conditions.
>
> We stand by the high quality of our teas, and we do understand that
> they are out of the price range of many people. It is our experience
> that there are serious tea lovers who are willing to pay for the
> highest quality, and that is what they get with Kasora.
>
> Thanks for your feedback,
> S. Hudson Bedell
> C.E.O Kasora Special Reserve Teas
>
> Aloke Prasad wrote:
>> To add as example:
>>
>> From kasora (http://www.kasora.com/servlet/Detail?no=11)
>> Makaibari Silver Tips (FTGFOP1S) 2006 1st Flush
>> 1 oz = $38
>> ----------------------------------
>> From Silvertips (http://silvertipstea.hostasaurus.com/)
>> Organic Makaibari Estate 1st Flush 2006 FTGFOP1S - Fair Trade Certified
>> 2 oz =$4.50
>>
>> Organic Makaibari Estate Silver Tips 2005 - Fair Trade Certified
>> 2 oz = $15.75
>>
>> Yeah, 1t's 2005 and not 2006 .. but still the price for Silver Tips is 5x
>> !!
>> --
>> Aloke
>> ----
>> to reply by e-mail remove 123 and change invalid to com
>>
>> "TeaDave" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Thank you for your gracious introduction, appropriate vendor notices
>> > are appreciated. The site seems nice enough, but a little low on
>> > information, and the prices are waaay out of my range.
>> >
>