Finding ways to medicine the already dead horse…

According to me, in which many others join, the age old tea auction system, set up by the British in mid 1850′s, is the main reason of Indian tea industry’s woes.

Though it is claimed that auctions ensure collection of payments, but the reason fails when we find that all the tea packeting companies collect their funds too, at much higher levels and quantums then the bulk teas sold thru these auction.

Auctions avails buyers to buy cheaps at much lower levels then the ones sellers can achieve if they sell privately.

This kills plantations.

The only gainers are the brokers themselves – the Shylocks of Indian tea industry.

A section of sellers is trying to invent yet another way of selling teas – Instant tea auctions – old rum in the new bottle – like fast food – by alluring the buyers with cash discounts.

This will lead to further sickness – adding fuel to the fire.

Hope good sence prevail upon everybody in the deciding chairs.

Golden Valleys…

If we see carefully we can find the reason of different qualities in different seasons in Darjeeling. Angle of sun rays and the ultra voilet radiation in shaded cloudy days has a major role to play in the formation of polyfalvinols during four seasons.

Guarding the guardians….

After 1842 opeium war with China, tea was broght to India and planted in Darjeeling alongwith the indigeneous plants from Assam. By 1900′s Darjeeling tea was widely getting circulated in Europe.

Since 2000′s tea is getting more and more associated with wellness and is being exposed and educated to the customer by the new breed of local vendors, who market the teas with a difference – they present the teas with stories and much fanfare.

This has put strain on the margins of these vendors, which is then duly compensated by dilution in quality – especially in the case of Darjeeling teas. Most of the 100 US$ per kilo tea dispensed comes from mediocre quality produced during rain flush.

This is doing immense damage to the image of Darjeeling tea. No certification trade mark can ensure safeguards against this dilution. Only consumer himself is the best guard.

Clef des Champs Inc.

Some concepts can be so compelling that people change their lives and thinking for them.

In North America, where modern medicine is king, the pharmaceutical industry reins supreme and oral traditions have practically disappeared over the last several centuries, making a living as an herbalist may seem somewhat akin to a miracle.

Francois Dufort, based in Val-David, Quebec, has dedicated himself to the cause of this and is on a study tour of Indian tea industry in north east India.

We are hosting him to further the cause of Darjeeling tea.

Why we do what we do…

John La Scala, Director of Interface Marketing International with network in USA, Europe and India visited us from 15th to 17th April 2008 for a possible business dialogue.

We feel proud to be qualifying for such sharp analysing eyes of the white world.

Lets hope for the best. 

Spreading the wings further…

On invitation of a tea boutique chain in Switzerland, Ankit Lochan visited “Tekoe” located in Lausanne from 8th to 13th April 2008 to get the first hand knowledge of tea entering this wine and coffee drinking nation. Soon this will follow into France, Spain & Norway.

And with him goes our tea from the land of Buddha – DOKE to this cold and beautiful land.

Old & the new…

How enchanting to see the new growth in the backdrop of old – the nature’s cycle. It is now 10 years since first tea was planted in Doke in July 1998 and the Doke silver needle has been recognised worldwide.

The team lead by Sanjay Vishwakarma is happy to achieve ever growing tea arena around our area where Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, visited on 11th April and BTPA presented him a facilitation.

Tea standardization

During 31st March 2008 meeting at Hangzhou, China, Indian Tea Board, which was representated by Ms. Rosni Sen, Deputy Chairperson and Dr. Chowdhury, took up the following resolution:

ISO/TC 34/SC 8 Resolution 161, taken on 2008-04-02

Adoption of Preliminary Work Item

ISO/TC 34/SC 8 decides to adopt a Preliminary Work Item to develop an International Standard for cold and hot water soluble instant teas.

ISO/TC 34/SC 8 notes that:

-        the Preliminary Work Item will be allocated to Working Group 1;

-        the Project Leader will be Dr. P. Jose David;

The members of ISO/TC 34/SC 8 are invited to nominate experts to contribute to the work.  

Approved unanimously

Keepers of the boundaries of the shadows…

The thorougly overlooked and overshadowed tea garden manager is the only saviour of tea industry. If the tea garden owners can understand this then all the ideas necessary for the revamp of this ailing tea industry in India can be translated into reality.

Delays will further distance the recovery.

Health of Tea industry in India…

We have the answers around us, only we need to see them. Our local vernacular newspaper covered this in yesterday and today’s editions.

If we can help tea gardens and its workers, we shall be sufficiently rewarded in our endeavor.