This is the time of year when our big shipments of teas arrive by sea from China, India, and Sri Lanka. Remember, tea is an agricultural crop and, for the most part, follows the seasons. With some exceptions, most tea production areas have wound down production for the year. We have made many of our buying decisions from this year’s offerings.   And we have a whole bunch of wonderful new teas to entice. We have some teas from one of the smallest family tea farms in India, also unheard of teas from Taiwan, and a new Sencha from Japan, and much more. We're excited to offer two exotic teas from the Doke Estate, the Black Fusion and the Green Diamond.  The Doke Tea Estate is one of the newest and smallest tea gardens in India.  I had the pleasure of visiting this tea estate and its founder, Rajiv Lochan (a life-long tea expert, who managed many of Darjeeling's most famous tea estates).  This estate, as it was made clear to me during my travels to India, is driven by passion and a generation-spanning love of tea.  They are producing some of the most unique and special teas coming out of India.

All the teas are hand-processed in very small batches at the Doke Estate, supervised by Rajiv's daughter Dolly Lochan (on the right), using family and local villagers to help.
Doomini Estate, 2nd Flush, TGFOP1

Also hailing from India, we have welcomed a handful of new Assams.  The tea growing region of Assam, in the far east of India, is known for producing heavy, thick, hearty black teas with a distinctive malty note to the flavor.  While in India this spring, I was able to observe a tea auction in Assam.  This tradition is over 100 years old, but has morphed into the digital/virtual age.  If Assams are your "cup of tea", you must check these out!

• Assam, Dinjoye Estate, 2nd Flush, TGFOP1
• Assam, Doomini Estate, 2nd Flush, TGFOP1
• Assam, Halmari Estate, 2nd Flush, TGFOP1
• Assam, Khagorijan Estate, 2nd Flush, FTGFOP1
• Assam, Khongea Estate, Special, TGFOP

  One of the more unique teas on this recent shipment of teas: the Makaibari Estate, Silver Tips.  I like to say that this tea is "historic."  This was the last tea produced at the Makaibari estate by the Bannerjee family; who founded this garden in 1859 and sold Makaibari in the summer of 2014.  I was so fortunate to meet with the owner before the sale of the estate.  And TeaSource is so fortunate to have such a remarkable tea available to its customers. Listening to the vast knowledge of the (at the time) owner of the Makaibari Estate. There is always more to learn when it comes to tea.

What other new teas are here?  (For a complete list, visit TeaSource’s website.)

• Darjeeling, Giddapahar Estate, 2nd Flush, Musk
• Darjeeling, Glenburn Estate, 2nd Flush, FTGFOP1
• Darjeeling, Jungpana Estate, 2nd Flush, FTGFOP1
• Darjeeling, Longview Estate, 2nd Flush, TGFBOP
• 1999 Sheng Puer
• Gunpowder Oolong
• Darjeeling, Goomtee Estate, Green Wonder
• Sencha #20

One more thing: we are expecting a shipment of eight pallets of tea from China.  A handful of new teas will be arriving any day!  Of course, we will let you know as soon as they are released.  What’s the best way to keep in touch with our retail/online store happenings?  Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. I hope you enjoy these new teas!  I know I am.

--Bill Waddington Owner, TeaSource