Organic Tea -- Is It Worth It?

But how can you be sure the "organic tea" you buy is really organic? Organic beverages such as tea and coffee are also available and they are very popular. We can buy organic vegetables, fruits, and even "organically raised" meat. Organic produce is everywhere.
What's to stop an unscrupulous tea vendor from falsely labeling his tea "organic" simply to get a better price? Organic produce, tea included, is usually more expensive than non-organic brands.
What is Organic Tea?
Organic tea is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The soil is enriched with natural compost and a layer of mulch retains the moisture while providing extra nutrients as it breaks down.
These competitions are held "blind" so that the judges can only use taste, aroma and color as the judging criteria. Tea competitions in China, Japan, and Taiwan have consistently chosen organic teas as the best teas of their class. This growing method is more labor-intensive but produces superior quality tea.
Scientific studies have shown that these compounds are found in higher concentrations in good quality tea. These are the antioxidants that provide many of the health benefits that tea is famous for. In addition to the improved flavor, organic tea is also higher in health promoting polyphenols and catechins.
This means that the farmer has less expense in replacing tea plants. Tea plants can live more than 100 years, and organic farming methods allow the tea plants to remain healthy for the duration of their lifespan. Organic tea is also better for the tea farmer.
Is it Really Organic?
Organizations like the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have certification programs that examine the growing practices of a particular tea plantation and issue certificates to those that meet their requirements. For one thing, there are several governmental and non-government agencies that certify products as being organic. When you pick up a package of tea that is labeled "organic" how can you be sure it's the real McCoy?
Packaged organic tea is required to meet the standards of the certifying agency, so look for tea which has the label of a recognized agency.
You are paying a premium for organic tea, so accept nothing short of the best. If it is not superb, it is probably not organic. Organic tea should titillate the taste buds with complex flavors and subtle delights. Above all, however, you should rely on your taste buds to tell you whether a tea is really organic.
Paul Dickson is a contributing writer to
Tea Genius.com
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An Excercise of Emotions with the Tea Guru

I had heard hundreds of stories about him and his tea estate particularly his love for animals, environment and above all his people. Rajah Banerjee of Makaibari Tea Estates, was possible. An honorable meeting with the most reputed Tea Guru I have ever known, Mr.

Why? Today's day will be the most memorable day in my life.
Upon hearing so many stories, I had taken a ‘particular snapshot' of him in my mind and was eagerly waiting to synchronize as soon as I set my foot on Makaibari's premises. Although, I had gone there to procure some organic teas for my selected clients, I found out that I was inclined more towards meeting him than procuring the teas. I guess, the love for tea which Mr. Banerjee shares with the world made my thoughts draw an arrow of urgency towards Mr. Banerjee's presence.
Bannerjee and I were having email sessions from beforehand, I was called inside instantly without any hesitation. As Mr. I guess those were necessary questions to be asked to anyone entering inside and I totally agree, afterall its one of the most reputed tea estates of the world. Whom do you want to meet?" the guard standing on the gate asked.

"Excuse me Sir, what work do you have here? I got down and entered the Makaibari gate - Guess what?
Yes, we were friends in no time I started my part and after a while we were laughing like little kids engrossed in our own world of friendship. Well, the silence was broken when the Tea Guru handed me his visiting card, shook hands with me and asked me with a smiling and welcoming face - "So young man, it's a pleasure to meet you, please tell me your story?" The down to earth behaviour from the other side evaporated my hesitant feeling from every pore of my body into thin air. Well, I was literally hesitant to speak up anything, thinking that I might speak something which may prove to be blatant and inappropriate. After a couple of moments, he was free to chat with me.

He signaled me to take a seat and requested me to wait for sometime as he was attending to his official work with one of his office staff. The first impression of my imprinted thoughts synchronized well regarding the outfit he was wearing - an essence of the British Raj reflected with his Khaki outfit, and I guess that is how it must have felt when anyone was meeting a ‘Bara Sahib' in the olden days.
By the time we finished our little chat for about an hour (yes, with heavenly amber sips in between), I could devise my brain instruments to record it and synchronize with my previous imagery. I found him to be a person, who is capable of walking hand-in-hand with his tea laborers, a person who respects life, believes in equality and above all a person who understands the importance of respecting other's feelings. A person you would dream to meet.
Now it was time for our little tea tasting session of the First Flush Silver Tips I was buying. Oh Boy! A heavenly brew which opened all of my sensory gates. The Tea Guru gave me a good number of tips on tea tasting and guess what; it was of great help and a new discovery when done following his guidelines. What he says about tea tasting - "Tea tasting is ABSTRACT, learn to associate with known flavors you know about and you will get your tea's divine description".
The tea tasting session was over and after spending more than two hours with him, I didn't want to waste anymore of Mr. Banerjee's time. Some Japanese group was waiting for his presence downstairs and it was now time for me to pay and head for home.
My Wife Made Me Look Stupid!
(quoted with her permission):
In the morning when I headed for Makaibari, I had told my wife to get the money in the bag and leave it on the bed. I got my digital camera, pushed it inside my bag and bid goodbye. I had about One Lac INR and now I was in Makaibari ready to pay the required amount to the man concerned. I had kept the bag inside Mr. Banerjee's office which had an open door leading to the tasting room and a long corridor which could be traversed by any of his staff members. I opened the bag and Boom! A thunder exploded right on my head - No money in the bag!! Guess about the situation!! I informed Mr. Banerjee about the situation and he too was utterly confused. All of the staff members were confused and don't ask about me - you can guess -
A Dead Man standing live!
I was dialing and at the very moment my wife called I was dialing and at the very moment my wife called - "Darling, I want to tell you one thing, but before I say, promise me you won't get angry"; I was literally irritated and she said, "I am sorry, but I put the money inside the bag otherwise she wouldn't have placed the bag on the bed as I had directed her to do. I was sure that my wife had put the money inside the bag otherwise she wouldn't have placed the bag on the bed as I had directed her to do. The news brought a sigh of relief to all of the staff members suggested me - "why don't you try and call home, you might have left it at home" - Not in a million.

I was sure that my wife had put the money in the wrong bag" - A mixed feeling of joy and anger ran through my vein. My brains could not work and from a corner, one of the staff members suggested me - "why don't you try and call home, you might have left it at home" - Not in a million.
After a while everything was normal and the memory was cherished instantly when the accountant of Makaibari and myself sat laughing and chatting sipping in the ethereal silver tips.
I headed home with a tremendous feeling of joy, happiness and yes of course with a yearning to scold my wife, but that didn't happen - the story itself proved so funny that I forgot everything and we were busy brewing the new silver tips. Banerjee goodbye - "Benoy keep dropping down to Makaibari" with a similing face that had initially welcomed me. The Makaibari Silver Tips got loaded on my vehicle and I bid Mr.
Guess Dalle is right! Banerjee's personal tea maker assistant) still is reverberating in my ears "Sir, whatever happens, it happens for good and maybe it was God's wish which prevented you from really losing your money through other means". To conclude, the words of Dalle (Mr.
:) Banerjee forget's me in the future, I can pull in the story anytime I meet him and bring back the hilarious past. Even if Mr. Maybe it is!

Or is it that God wanted the whole Makaibari family to remember the incident forever.
Author:
Benoy Thapa is a Tea Lover from Darjeeling, India. His love for tea has ignited a fire in him to write out his thoughts on tea and share it with the world. He has a tea company based in Darjeeling, which deals with
exotic Darjeeling Teas
You can check his .
Darjeeling Tea
company's site at
http://www.thunderbolttea.com
Copyright © Benoy Thapa, Darjeeling, India