So my friend returned from India a little while back and picked me up some tea as a favor.
He came back with a Darjeeling, but also with this, that I am rather curious about.
It's labeled "Moonar Tea" and is in a sealed transparent plastic sleeve. I haven't opened it yet, but I can tell that it has a "grainy" texture to it - they aren't full leaves by any means.
My friend tells me he bought it directly off a farm - but that's about all the info he as on it.
Anyone have any details on what this is?
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/455 ... 03a7_o.jpg
Apologies for the terrible picture quality - all I have with me is my cameraphone.
Apr 26th, '10, 22:50
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Apr 26th, '10, 22:58
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Dresden
Re: "Moonar Tea"
It could be referring to the Indian town of Munnar. It is located in Southwest India and most of the town's residents are employed by the tea industry.
Munnar, Kerala, India
Munnar, Kerala, India
Re: "Moonar Tea"
Well Munnar is an estate in India. But what they have done to that tea is hard to say. The sweeps?
Apr 26th, '10, 23:08
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Re: "Moonar Tea"
If you mean the leftover sweepings, that's what I was thinking. It was by no means an expensive tea.Victoria wrote:The sweeps?
Apr 26th, '10, 23:12
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Re: "Moonar Tea"
It does rather look like the fannings... Similar to what you would find in a teabag.
Re: "Moonar Tea"
Does it look granulated into tiny Pebbles, in that case it could be a CTC (Cut Tear Curl) Tea, which is actually rather common in India I believe, though not so much anywhere else.
Apr 27th, '10, 10:01
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Re: "Moonar Tea"
I say CTC as well. Some CTCs are very granulated depending on the machinery used.
They are more common from Assam than Darjeeling. I never had or saw a CTC like this from Darjeeling, though I guess they exist.
Hmm, very brown for a Darjeeling as well. Could be another growing region's being sold as a Darjeeling since after all there is more Darjeeling sold than produced
They are more common from Assam than Darjeeling. I never had or saw a CTC like this from Darjeeling, though I guess they exist.
Hmm, very brown for a Darjeeling as well. Could be another growing region's being sold as a Darjeeling since after all there is more Darjeeling sold than produced
Re: "Moonar Tea"
Yes that's what I meant "fannings" like others have said.hooksie wrote:If you mean the leftover sweepings, that's what I was thinking. It was by no means an expensive tea.Victoria wrote:The sweeps?
Well ... brew it up and tell us about it! Watch the
weight and the time, less will be better till you know.
Good luck!
Apr 27th, '10, 13:16
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Re: "Moonar Tea"
Looking it up, perhaps this could be a good tea to try making chai with?AdamMY wrote:Does it look granulated into tiny Pebbles, in that case it could be a CTC (Cut Tear Curl) Tea, which is actually rather common in India I believe, though not so much anywhere else.
Re: "Moonar Tea"
No no no, you're ALL wrong, they were just trying to write "Manure Tea" ... Who wouldn't like a hot, steaming pile... er... cup of... tea... ?
Re: "Moonar Tea"
So, hooksie, have you tried any, or are we just going to stare at it? It won't kill you. You can always flavor it or use it for chai if necessary.
And how was the Darjeeling?
And how was the Darjeeling?
Re: "Moonar Tea"
I was in Munnar about 2.5 years ago. It is a beautiful mountainous area that is a major tea growing place about 1500-2000m in elevation. It's a wonderful place to visit in Kerala, South India. Very refreshing as the weather is quite a bit cooler than at sea level.hooksie wrote: It's labeled "Moonar Tea" and is in a sealed transparent plastic sleeve. I haven't opened it yet, but I can tell that it has a "grainy" texture to it - they aren't full leaves by any means.
Anyone have any details on what this is?
Bigger
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/455 ... 03a7_o.jpg
As Victoria and Dresden said, these are fannings, tea residue after processing. Unfortunately, I never saw or tasted high quality tea from this area. It is not comparable to Darjeeling but for masala chai or tea with milk and sugar, it's fine.
Re: "Moonar Tea"
I agree with Tead.
Munnar's a lovely place to visit, and one of the few cooler places in sweltering South India, and has a similiar climate to the Nilgiris.
What you have there is what in India is called Tea Dust. Very strong, and you need very little. Good for a strong cup of Chai... cooks easily so don't overbrew. For Chai you need high temperatures, but reduce the cooking time by half. Experiment with tea quantities... start with less, and increase if you like.
Munnar's a lovely place to visit, and one of the few cooler places in sweltering South India, and has a similiar climate to the Nilgiris.
What you have there is what in India is called Tea Dust. Very strong, and you need very little. Good for a strong cup of Chai... cooks easily so don't overbrew. For Chai you need high temperatures, but reduce the cooking time by half. Experiment with tea quantities... start with less, and increase if you like.