It was great to see the Kejriwals at the 2008 World Tea Expo. They always take their time to give you the best samples and explain their products. I didn’t want to take up too much of their time. I feel like I could sit and talk to them all day. Their profound knowledge of tea is fascinating to me. The Kejriwals have owned the Jungpana tea estate in Darjeeling and Ghillidary tea estate in Assam for over 50 years.

I was very fortunate to get a fresh tin of their Ghillidary Premium Assam tea. As soon as I came home, I made several cups. The tea was so fresh and reviving. After a long trip from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and back, I needed something to revive me. I was absolutely drained. Anyway, when you think of Assam, you think of a bold, full-bodied, malty, flavored black tea. With Ghillidary, you get all of that and more. The flavor and scent are very powerful. As someone that would like to visit Assam and Darjeeling, this is as close as I can get at the moment. I imagine the scent of the tea is as aromatic as the actual tea estate.

So what is the legend of Ghillidary?: The Ghillidary tea is legendary for its golden color, rich flavor, strength and wonderful aroma. It is blended especially by our brew masters from hand plucked tender shoots of selected bushes, processed in immaculate conditions and packed at the estate to ensure freshness.

The Ghillidary tea estate gets its name from the tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra, and is surrounded by the lush green fields of Golgaghat, near the forest of the Kaziranga wild life sanctuary, home of the Indian rhinoceros and majestic Indian tiger.

• Visit Prana

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One of the highlights of my trip to the 2007 World Tea Expo was getting to talk to the Kejriwal family. The Kejriwal family has owned the Ghillidary and Jungpana tea estates in India for several decades. -What an incredibly hospitable family… The son of Harsh Kejriwal (I wish I knew his name) offered me a sample of their well-known second flush Darjeeling (Jungpana). I know they were there to promote their products, and it was his job to pass out the samples; however, there was just something special about this family. The Kejriwal’s are very proud to call Jungpana “the best” second flush tea in Darjeeling (I believe it was dubbed the choicest). At the same time, they were very modest and wanted to make sure I tried the tea to allow the tea to “speak” for itself. After trying literally 20-30 teas that day, I still remember the Jungpana. It was easily the most memorable tea of the entire show for me. Ghillidary is their Assam estate, and Jungpana is their Darjeeling estate. I was fortunate enough to get to try both varieties. The Jungpana tea was my favorite. It had the unique natural freshness that your body welcomes and craves. I drink a lot of great tea, but every now and then one just stands out. Now, it had all the characteristics of a lot of other Darjeeling teas, but it had a purity about it. Once you taste it, your senses are almost instantaneously heightened. I tried the Assam CTC when I came back from the show. I’ve never been a big fan of CTC tea, but I followed their advice (30 seconds steeping time with a drop of milk) and the tea was excellent.

I want to thank the family members at the booth for sharing their enthusiasm and tea with me. I was inspired by their courtesy and hospitality. If I ever get the opportunity to tour India’s tea gardens, I hope to visit one of the famed tea estates owned by the Kejriwal family. If you see their teas being offered from a trusted tea supplier, I highly recommend it.

• (note: their site is under construction) Visit Garden Fresh for more information on Jungpana and Ghillidary

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