I want to separates my tea journey story in three different phases:

Tea in Bangladesh
Tea in Qatar
Tea in South Africa

As usual this tea journey contain tea stories and some cultural facts.
My journey started from Mozambique-South Africa-Qatar-Bangladesh. I was
going to visit Bangladesh after two years and I was excited to explore
their latest tea plantation. Mozambique itself produce good quality
black CTC tea which is very strong, sweet flavored. Mozambique is a
huge country and all tea plantation are situated in North which is not
easy to go. One way is to go by 4X4 drive or fly through US government
owned private aircraft "AirServe". US government has some development
projects in that area which is located next to Malawi fresh water lake
area and through these development program I have build some friendship
with some growers. They had offered me many good quality tea. They
allowed me to blend their tea with many other Chinese, Bangladeshi and
Ceylon tea. They also asked my help to bring a tea planter from
Bangladesh who can help them to produce some clone tea and help them to
improve their marketing. Of course I took the offer with pleasure. They
gave me four types of black tea which I was selected as Mozambican tea
ambassador to Bangladesh.

Tea in Bangladesh:

After a day and half flight when the plan landed in Zia International
airport I was getting very excited because after all I was born to this
beautiful country. It was a wonderful feeling. When I was to the
immigration the immigration officer didn't even wanted to check my
foreign passport. He just smile and say- "Welcome to Bangladesh, enjoy
your stay. No matter what you are always one of us." Hey, this I call
Bangladeshi hospitality. My brother was waiting outside to receive me
from the airport and that was another touchy feeling to meet my brother
again who always encouraged me about my tea research. It was almost
dinner time and I had very rich food Biriani(Fried rice with goat
meat), Borhani(This is Bangladeshi traditional yogurt drink, sort of
Arab Laban,Ayran or Arke but spicy) and Chicken masala. After two years
I had this food, I wasn't feeling very well. My sister-in-law(a real
tea lover) prepared a cup of Bangladeshi Black pearl SFTGFOP 1 black
tea. The tea was so brisk, fruity and sweet flavored which was a week
old production. Rest of the night was telling them my adventure in
Africa.

I woke up 10:00 AM next day, hey that was my R&R- I went their to
relax not work. I called my tea friends though they knew I was coming
to visit them. One of my friend came to pick me up around afternoon and
drove me to a Bagan Bari (It is a villa next to a river with hundreds
of flower beds). Another sentimental moment to be with all my tea
friends. This time their group even became bigger, total 47 people. All
of them have different profession but they all love tea. My friend
Rabbi created a blend "Lord Ripon's blend" for my memory which is also
one of my blend but who cares about trade mark. The tea was blended of
two different tea from North(the foothill of Himalaya) and
South-East(Boarder with Burma and Chinese Yunnan province is just one
and half hour flight). They are very different teas though both are
black tea. The tea from North represent Darjeeling flavor with more
fruity taste. Some tea mailers remember the sample I shared with them.
The tea from South-West was more of a mix taste of Yuanan(Dian Hong)
and Assam. Both were organic tea and very limited production. These two
tea straight goes to European market, mainly Scandinavian. Then we had
a new black tea from Sylet(The mail tea producing area just next to
Assam). This tea planter is a Bangladeshi-British who himself is a
lawyer who never goes to the court. He build this small tea estate
inside an orange garden which gives the tea leaves a tangy flavor with
sweet, very refreshing aroma. He is a highly intellectual person, very
knowledgeable and a educated world traveler. He doesn't have any tea
education. All he does dream and share with his planter. He still not
very much interested about export market but his son seems more
business minded. I was impressed to talk with this young man who is a
MIT graduate and trying to create a new tea processing machine. I was
very lucky to meet a 21st centuries Bangladeshi visionary young man and
the bonus was to met his wonderful Lebanese wife. We spend in that
villa until mid night. I was there almost a month so I have many tea
stories. I don't want the readers to be bored. Maybe the stories are
very interesting to me, it might not be interesting to you. This time I
also discovered their is a direct flight from
Dhaka(Bangladesh)-Yunnan(China) which brought these teo tea producer
country close to each other. Yunnan tea is also avilable in Bangladesh
market. It also increased the businiess between two countries around $5
billion.

The main discovery was the country improved a lot last two years as
well as tea production. The country is transforming from a leading
garments industry to a pharmaceutical and software maker. I hope these
two new sector will help the country to get rid off poverty. US
involvement is huge in the development sector and it was also wonderful
to visit our old folks who are working for the US mission over there.

Tea in Qatar:

Qatar is a small, oil rich Arab country which surprised me with their
newly reformed democracy. The education minister is a woman and many
other municipal political leaders are also woman. They voting right to
choose their MPs and the world famous news network Al-Jazeera is based
in Doha, Qatar. The flight from Bangladesh to Qatar was very long but
my first class ticket helped me to have a good night sleep with Arab
mint tea and Laban.

Qatar is another uprising Dubai(U.A.E) and the city is just next to the
ocean. Beautifully decorated with man made flower bedding. They import
all these flower plants from Holland. I always have strong weakness
from Arab culture, food and mint tea. When I arrived in my hotel, I had
get down 15 meter away from the main entrance. Though Al-Jazera have
the reputation to broadcast anti Iraq war news but it is one of the
most American friendly Arab nation. They protect American establishment
with great care. My hotel Marriot is an American chain that's why they
have this high alert security. I am used to with strict security system
in Mozambique because I live inside a fort style US government compound
which became part of my daily life. But as an American civilian, you
might feel uncomfortable with security system in Qatar. The hotel
welcomed us with a wonderful drink. I forgot the name but it was 50%
lemon juice, 50% water and sugar concentrate and lots of freshly
chopped mint. Ah, what a taste. They ask me if I need anything special.
I said yes- "Qatar style tea." They offered me two types "Cha Nana" and
"Cha Nume Basra".

I booked my wife name to the health spa and hired a nanny for my two
little kids so I can go to explore the city. One of my friend worked in
the US embassy their who always send me updated news and he is a huge
supporter of Arab democracy. Unfortunately, he had to leave the post
for a regional conference. Anyway nothing can stop me so I have decided
to go to City Centre(Qatar's largest shopping mall). City Centre is
full of foreigners, specially the US marine who come here for R&R from
Iraq. They want peace and doesn't want to go to bustling commercial
Dubai. Their is also a man made island next to the city and any sort of
swimming suits are allowed,include Greek style- I was impressed to
see their democracy reform process and the right for woman. Man and
woman are working together side by side no hesitation.

The City centre entrance welcomed me with an advertisement of Starbuck.
Wow, after two long years. I miss Frapaccino Mocha.. here I come
Starbuck. The huge shock was waiting for me inside the cafe. The
StarBuck cafe was full of Americans- diplomats, marines and investors.
Not a bad idea to start with political news. I am always a very easy
going person so it was very easy for me to find some friends and end up
with two hours political chat. The end was not so good when a young
Marine folk was pointing his finger to me again and again. He was
trying to say we diplomatic core are not doing enough for Iraq crisis.
I was unable to explain to him, we have nothing to do with it. We work
in Africa mission and our work is fully development. Anyway, I also
understood his stress and home sickness. But couple of Marine showed me
their family picture and ask where they can find woman. Oh, remind me
the movie Born in the forth of July or Miss Saigon. I tried to express
my respect to them who are serving our nation far away from home. I
have no comment about this war. I think I know very little about this
crisis to draw a conclusion. This not my decision.

I did some shopping. I bought some antique dagger, a nice Moroccan
silver tea set with six tea glasses and one Afghani carpet. Then I stop
by in a traditional Arab Moorish style Cafe. The Cafe is beautifully
decorated with Arab style carpets, hand made wooden curving furniture.
The fresh Coffee smell wanted me to kill me but I choose Cha Nana(Mint
green tea with one cardamom) and Cha Nume Basra(dried lime with
Ceylon). I don't speak Arabic so I couldn't find that much but I
understand little word here and there. I felt Qatari people are well
aware of world politics and they also enjoy good art. It was just
interesting to listen to their conversation and sip tea.

As planed I had a wonderful, romatic dinner with my wife with Seesh
kabob, Hamos, Tabuli, Baba Ganus with freshly backed Arab bread. We end
up with a cup of Cardamom tea.

Tea in South Africa:

Well being in Mozambique means being in South Africa. We go to South
Africa once or twice a month. The South African tea culture is very
English. I had a good cup of English Break fast and Earl Grey. I will
write some other time. I am getting tired of this long e-mail.

I know I haven't write about my tea in Swaziland yet but I will. My
work took away all of my free time. I was very glad to spend a full
month in Bangladesh and I will write more detail about Bangladeshi tea.

Hope you enjoy my tea journey. More on the way, stay tuned.

Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique