Friday September 30, 2011 | 7 comments
In January of 2012, I will celebrate my sixth anniversary as a Tea Drinker. Those readers who notice the inappropriate capitalization of that object, read on. Save the red pencil for later, please. Tea Drinkers are those of us who own several tea pots, have at least an entire shelf devoted to tins and foil bags of whole leaf tea, relish the ritual of hot water / whole leaf / time, and are more than likely to bore the socks off of anyone who asks questions about tea. The tea drinker finds whole leaf too messy, preferring the sterility and distance afforded by the tea bag. The world is big enough for both Tea Drinkers and tea drinkers, and no matter how you swing, Lochan Tea has a tea for you.
Over the last six years, I have ordered tea from half a dozen online sources: Harney and Son, Teavana, The Tea Spot, T Ching, Mighty Leaf, and Lochan Tea. Each retailer has something special in the world of tea. Harney has an Earl Grey type – Paris Blend – that will forever be special because it was my first whole leaf blend. Teavana’s website was designed by and for those of us living with ADHD. Their Lapsang Souchong isn’t too bad either, if you like tea that tastes of campfire. The Tea Spot’s Earl of Grey is heavenly, hot or iced. T Ching, alas, is no longer in the whole leaf business. Mighty Leaf also has a nice Earl Grey, and several nice oolongs. The best of these, however, is Lochan Tea.
Lochan Tea is located in Siliguri, India. Besides growing, importing, and exporting great teas, they have long been advocates for increasing the educational opportunities for women. Positively involved in the politics behind tea, they were chosen to provide tea and gift bags for VIP’s at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Further, the family has “adopted” Sandy Bushberg as a brother. Let’s move on to their teas, which are fresh, delicious, and priced for the frugal enthusiast.
Lochan offers a variety of black, green, oolong, and chai teas. They also offer tea bags. My current favorite is Yunnan Gold (Jinnah), which is a mellow black tea. I am reminded of dark chocolate. Right behind Yunnan is Harmutty, similar to Yunnan, but finishing with a horehound flavor. What I am drinking as I write this is Duflating – I simply must email Ankit and ask him what it means – which is a perfect marriage of flavors between Harmutty and Yunnan. We have also enjoyed Giddapahar, Ti Kuan Yin, Gielle, and several others. Two chais, “Dream” and “Calming,” have also been savored.
No question about the quality of the teas, but what about shipping? Shipping charges are always the kicker when ordering online. GOOD NEWS! The tea prices are so reasonable that Lochan blows every other tea company out of the water, price per gram, after shipping charges are added. The tea is dispatched and on your doorstep within a week of payment. So, for all you Tea Drinkers – and tea drinkers – out there . . . BUY LOCHAN.
thank you for such a wonderful article .. blessed to be selling tea to the people who know the value of good teas …
Duflating is a tea estate in assam which produces one of the best tippy clonal assam teas in the world … they teas sell as high as 500 USD per kilo…
Regena – what an honour for us..now we have to live up to your image and have to work harder to server tea people worldwide…Thanks…everybody…
I love the new concept behind Tea Drinkers. As an English teacher, I’m impressed with your willingness to modify the rules. How right you are. I’m going to borrow this shamelessly if you don’t object.
You’re also right on about Lochan. Their tea is terrific and they have the qualities that we want all of our tea growers to have when it comes to their pickers and their families as well as the quality of their teas.
There are so many options outside the large companies for ordering tea online. I hope people will expand their options in that way. We just received samples of 2nd flush 2011 Darjeelings & Assams from Lochan and I agree…freshness stands out for me, and we chose one estate for Darjeeling and one for Assam as our favorite. Hopefully we can make the shipping work in small wholesale quantities.
We go to great, great lengths to taste as many teas as possible and choose the best tasting in each category and then offer most on our website http://caltcb.com Our retail store provides a good ‘laboratory’ for feedback by consumers in real time.
we at lochan tea are so much thankful to Regena and to Tching as well for thinking so nicely about us and speaking so high of us – and we will strive our best and work harder to live up to the expectations of our clients – Serving Socity with Superior Quality Products – is our motto…
Yes, Regena – you have come across the ‘Gentlemen of Tea,’ The Lochans. You simply must try their teas from India, though. I have had the distinct pleasure of sipping it right there in the office of Mr. Rajiv Lochan, and then to have the wonderful opportunity to walk the tea fields of the Darjeeling area and beyond. Now that was a tea experience! Guess what? You can have an almost-similar experience by sipping Indian Teas right out of your cup – which I highly suggest. I was very happy to read your article and to ‘ditto’ your suggestion – BUY LOCHAN.
Agree 100%: Lochan Teas are wonderful! We received some 2nd flush which was only three weeks old when it arrived on our doorstep. Amazing. The Lochans we’ve had dealings with on twitter, or G have been incredibly friendly and helpful, their service was reliable and fast. The company’s prices are so much more competitive too. So, yes I’d also say; buy. Lochan tea. Now.