How to collect this year's first tea harvest

• How to collect this year's first tea crop of

This beautiful and sunny spring morning you are, sitting in his office behind a computer screen to open my blog in it, do a sip of freshly brewed aromatic tea. And somewhere out there, far away in India, in the north-east of the country on the picturesque slopes of the mountains beautiful girls rip first leaves after tea, after spring rains season. The first tea this year. They collect this tea for you! Heavy and monotonous work, for which they receive a day less than a packet of tea in our shops. But, nevertheless, collect tea with a smile!

You know, I had not planned to go to a tea factory, but driving past one of the plantations on the way from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling, asked the driver to stop. And this casual tea slope was probably the most beautiful of the whole trip.

Good morning to all those who are now drinking tea!

Darjeeling is one of the very finest black teas. Although there is growing not only black, but also green tea.

The first gathering (Eng. First flush) is collected in March and April, after a season of spring rains. It has a light, mild flavor and fresh aroma. Color of the brew most light.

Tea Collection is carried out manually. At the same time taken the tops of young shoots with two leaves and buds. These tops are called flushes. For the production of one kilogram of tea requires approximately 22,000 such flushes, each of which is assembled by hand.

Girls get 90 rupees a day, which is about $ 1.5. Remuneration tea pickers same on all plantations - both private and public. I asked this question three times in different places Darjeeling province. Work from 7.30 am to 17.00 6 days a week.

The total production of Darjeeling tea amounts at more than 10 thousand. Tonnes. The number of daily engaged in the production of about 52 000 people, and for the entire season collection, it comes to 150 thousand.

The Darjeeling Tea is grown in the north Indian state of West Bengal, between Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan, on the slopes of the Eastern Himalayas. In this area there are more than 80 tea estates located at an altitude of 1000-2000 meters above sea level. These plantations, which in India are called "tea gardens", cover an area of ​​over 20 000 hectares.

More than half of the tea sold at auction in Calcutta. And, in general, more than 80% is exported.

And it appears on our table with you. Darjeeling should be drunk without sugar, milk or honey. This is one of the few types of tea, which is totally self-sufficient. Well, I am convinced personally, bringing a couple of packs of home.

Darjeelings brewed in the same way as the other varieties of black tea: dry tea leaves is filled with hot water (≈85-100 ºC) and allow to infuse for 3-5 minutes. But if you want a flavor of fine Indian tea revealed in full, using water saturated with oxygen (young hot water). Overboiled water is absolutely not suitable for brewing Darjeeling.