We drink tea daily, and it is an integral part of our lives. How many times have we sat along with our friends or family and searched for that perfect cup of tea? That one cup, that perfect cup which upon drinking gives a feeling of uplifting positivity and freshness.
I remember when I was young, tea used to come in loose packets from a local grocery store. If my memory serves me right, tea was a tradition, and I often used to hear my elders talking, "Today something is missing in the tea. It is not up to the mark." That is exactly when I first wanted to know—what makes that perfect Chai? What is "The Perfect Cup"?
Living in the Heart of Tea
I stay in a place called Siliguri, right on the foothills of Darjeeling. Fortunately, I have acquaintances, friends, and family members who are deeply involved in the Tea Community. Some have their own tea gardens, some make teas by buying leaves from small growers, and some just blend and sell teas.
I wanted to know what makes that Perfect Cup. I started my research, and the more I learned about tea, the more I realized how little I actually knew about TEA. There are hundreds of teas in the market. But I was particular about what I wanted—the perfect tea for my own mornings and evenings.
What blew my mind was learning that teas manufactured in the exact same tea garden differ in taste every 8 hours! Teas processed during the day and teas made at night will have a completely different character. It will just taste different. The same is the case with seasons. Teas made during March will be so much different from teas made during June.
A Quick Fact I Learned
During my research, I found out why this happens. It's called Oxidation. The natural oils inside the tea leaf react to the air and temperature. Even a slight drop in temperature at night changes how the leaf ferments in the factory. That's why relying on just one garden to give you the exact same taste all year round is nearly impossible!
A Small Incident
Let me tell you about a small incident. We were visiting a tea garden located in the foothills of Darjeeling hills, just about 45 minutes from my house. The manager of the garden was well known to us, and he showed us around. When we concluded our visit, he gave us a packet of freshly made tea.
We came back home and made a Chai Latte using those teas, and the tea we made was extraordinary. I may not be able to describe in words just how good that tea was. But here is the catch: once that batch of tea got over, I got more teas from the exact same garden. And the quality we got earlier was nowhere close.
The Secret is in the Blend
So again, it got me thinking. I was still elusive of the answer of how and where to get the PERFECT Cup of tea. I started sitting with many experts, tea tasters, and big tea garden owners in my quest.
Despite my best efforts, I could not get the right mix at first. Because I got to know from the learned people, and by my own self-experience, that no two teas are ever the same. Some will have flavor, some will have a strong smell, and some will have a rich color.
I was more interested in aromas and flavor, and I finally concluded that teas of the highest quality, from different gardens and different altitudes, will have to be tested and blended to get that exact cup I wanted.
With the help of all these tea experts and blenders, I have finally come up with a blend of CTC TEA (Chai) which is truly one of the best. This blend is my personal promise to you—a promise for a perfect cup of Chai Latte every time you make one.