Cheap'n'cheerful Indian CTC
 

With a nod to Jim...

When people ask me where to get "normal" tea (by which they usually mean
EBT or Early Grey) in bags, I generally recommend an Indian grocery
store. They seem to have English-quality black tea at a fraction of
American prices. (Not that I'd ever buy black tea in bags myself; just
trying to be helpful and slightly mysterious.)

Finding myself down to my last 250g of Yorkshire Gold, and facing a
predicted couple of feet of wet snow to be plowed, I wondered if they
might also carry loose tea. I scoured all five of the Indian shops on
one street in a nearby town. Mostly bags, I was sorry to see, and not
much in the way of loose "workingman's tea" (as my Yorkshire uncle
called it). Instead of trying Lipton or Brooke Bond, I asked if they had
anything with more kick. Out of a half-dozen "native" selections, I was
steered toward Mamri "Tea of Assam" at $2.49/400g, and Wagh Bakri
"Strong CTC Leaf Tea" at $3.49/500g. Risky investment, I know, but one
must take chances to learn.

The Assam, in several tastings, just didn't cut it: no real off-notes,
but flat and lacking in top-notes or fragrance. I'll save it for
seasoning pots, staining didgeridoos, etc. The Wagh Bakri is pretty
drinkable, better than anything common here in bags and certainly
adequate for bull-drinking or iced tea when comes the season.

Don't think I'd buy either again, when Yorkshire Gold is £1.69 at
Sainsbury's (and the dollar's up). But a worthwhile experiment. And fun
to buy two pounds of any kind of tea for the price of a gram of decent
sheng Pu-erh or ten of oolong.

-DM

Cheap'n'cheerful Indian CTC
 

DogMa > wrote:
>
>Don't think I'd buy either again, when Yorkshire Gold is £1.69 at
>Sainsbury's (and the dollar's up). But a worthwhile experiment. And fun
>to buy two pounds of any kind of tea for the price of a gram of decent
>sheng Pu-erh or ten of oolong.

Ask for the Gulabi brand "kalami" full leaf tea. May be easier to find
at a place catering to middle easterners than Indians. It's not strong
stuff at all, but actually pretty subtle, a very pleasant morning cup, and
in the same price range.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Cheap'n'cheerful Indian CTC
 

Ive always found Indian stores to be the worse place to buy Indian
teas. Youll find a much better choice in Arabic stores. Mamri is the
preferred tea for making chai. Its like complaining about Liptons US
in a cup when it is suppose to make iced tea. You can find the
smaller grade assam called Barooti in middle east stores. Kalami and
Barooti meet the Islamic dietary standards similar to kosher. My
favorite tea bags Sainbury's Red Label. I think in general you cant
beat a British blend because of the competition. I prefer the 500g
tins.

Jim

On Feb 5, 6:13 pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> DogMa > wrote:
>
> >Don't think I'd buy either again, when Yorkshire Gold is £1.69 at
> >Sainsbury's (and the dollar's up). But a worthwhile experiment. And fun
> >to buy two pounds of any kind of tea for the price of a gram of decent
> >sheng Pu-erh or ten of oolong.
>
> Ask for the Gulabi brand "kalami" full leaf tea. May be easier to find
> at a place catering to middle easterners than Indians. It's not strong
> stuff at all, but actually pretty subtle, a very pleasant morning cup, and
> in the same price range.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Yes they are cheap and side by side maintain quality too. I was shocked to see such cheap prices there and finally ended up with good deal.