Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

Fully oxidized tea leaves for a robust cup.


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Apr 20th, '11, 15:34
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Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by teaisme » Apr 20th, '11, 15:34

These 3 I am considering to order from.
In paticular thunderbolt and tea emp.
I saw the packaging pics Victoria posted about tea emporium and they look fantastic. But then I look at the pictures of the leaf and they mostly do not look as whole as thuderbolts.

Does anyone have a preference one over the other? Care to say why?
My guess from browsing websites is that lochan is not as good as these 2. Has their website design fooled me?

Apr 20th, '11, 16:03
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by edkrueger » Apr 20th, '11, 16:03

Order from the one that has the cheapest price on the teas you want. For the most part, A Castleton FTGFOP, for example, from one store is going to be the same as a Castleton FTGFOP from another store given that they are from the same year and harvest. Which batch it comes from makes little difference.

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Apr 20th, '11, 16:13
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Chip » Apr 20th, '11, 16:13

edkrueger wrote:Order from the one that has the cheapest price on the teas you want. For the most part, A Castleton FTGFOP, for example, from one store is going to be the same as a Castleton FTGFOP from another store given that they are from the same year and harvest. Which batch it comes from makes little difference.
Each garden can have multiple lots with the same FTGFOP. Lots are sold by number. Unfortunately Joe Consumer rarely if ever has access to this information. Different lots bearing the same FTGFOP can vary greatly in flavor profile and cost.

Buying Darjeeling is too often a bit of a crap shoot and thus the vendor selected becomes most critical.

Apr 20th, '11, 16:24
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by edkrueger » Apr 20th, '11, 16:24

I used the wrong word in my post, I meant lot by batch. I still think they are more or less consistent given the same year and season. However, in choosing a vendor, lot doesn't matter because they never tell what lot number it is anyway– as Chip says. I suppose if you order samples from a few vendors and noticed the difference you could reorder based on that, but they might have changed lots by then.

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Apr 20th, '11, 22:19
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Tead Off » Apr 20th, '11, 22:19

The invoice # tells you when it was picked and most vendors will tell you if you ask. Chip is right to say that different pickings will vary but to stress over it at this point may prove a waste of time.

Not all Darjeeling are whole leaf, especially in 2nd flush. The ff teas I bought from Teaemporium were all whole leaf. You can't tell very well from the photos that vendors post on their website. Thunderbolt looks good, too, but I have no experience with them. You can always ask the vendor if the tea is whole leaf.

Apr 22nd, '11, 15:01
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by shah82 » Apr 22nd, '11, 15:01

Lochan tea is best for budget, if you just want good enough Darj. Tea Emporium and Thunderbolt are on another level, tho' cheaper than euro outlets, that's for sure...

Apr 23rd, '11, 09:28
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Alucard » Apr 23rd, '11, 09:28

Does any know of any Tea Emporium resellers? I'd like to order 100gr from them but think $20 for shipping is high and dont want to commit to 100gr x2. What is the shelf life of FF Darjeeling if unopened?

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Apr 23rd, '11, 23:14
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Tead Off » Apr 23rd, '11, 23:14

Alucard wrote:Does any know of any Tea Emporium resellers? I'd like to order 100gr from them but think $20 for shipping is high and dont want to commit to 100gr x2. What is the shelf life of FF Darjeeling if unopened?
I think they have free shipping if you order a certain amount, maybe under $60. I am still drinking 2010ff and still enjoying it.

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Apr 25th, '11, 13:42
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by teaisme » Apr 25th, '11, 13:42

yeah both tea emporium and thunderbolt offer free shipping for orders $60+.

Apr 25th, '11, 16:05
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Alucard » Apr 25th, '11, 16:05

churng wrote:yeah both tea emporium and thunderbolt offer free shipping for orders $60+.
This looks like the best option. I am fairly new to Darjeeling, the last time I had was 2+ years ago. I am thinking of getting Castleton FF and Thurbo Spring Delight FF, has anyone had these from this year or last year? If so how were they? Thanks!

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Apr 26th, '11, 00:08
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by Tead Off » Apr 26th, '11, 00:08

Thurbo is good garden.

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Apr 26th, '11, 00:47
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by kymidwife » Apr 26th, '11, 00:47

I have an order enroute from Tea Emporium... woohoo, can't wait! This will be my fourth year of ordering FF teas from Tea Emporium, and I couldn't be more pleased. I've had nothing but stellar service and excellent teas from them. Haven't tried Thunderbolt but I do hear good things.

I'm reluctant to be too critical of any vendor since I'm no expert, but speaking from my own personal taste and that of a friend who also tried them... Lochan was not even in the same ballpark, and I wouldn't consider ordering from them again.

Sarah

Apr 26th, '11, 17:21
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by NOESIS » Apr 26th, '11, 17:21

I've been a big fan of Tea Emporium in years past, but with the dramatic price hike for this year's FF teas, I'll pass for now.

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May 6th, '11, 16:24
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by teaisme » May 6th, '11, 16:24

ok went with thunderbolt
all those sales and nice pics sold me :mrgreen:

I ordered a FF, 3 SF, and an autumn. super excited

Accidentally forgot to put in the code for free shipping so got charged extra $38 bucks. We'll see how fast that is resolved after a couple of emails to them today.

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May 16th, '11, 06:14
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Re: Tea Emp/Thunderbolt/Lochan Which for you?

by siae » May 16th, '11, 06:14

Hmm,

I am thinking about ordering some teas from Lochan. Can anyone tell me about them?
kymidwife wrote: I'm reluctant to be too critical of any vendor since I'm no expert, but speaking from my own personal taste and that of a friend who also tried them... Lochan was not even in the same ballpark, and I wouldn't consider ordering from them again.
Why wouldn't you consider ordering from them again?

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