by Intuit » Jan 2nd, '09, 20:47
I'd take a good look at Silver Tips Tea company. They specialize in Darjeeling estate, but have a wonderful variety of black teas -with especially flavorful Nilgiri, as well as black tea blends, and many green, white and red teas that are quite palatable too. They have featured monthly sales on 3-4 teas and have very reasonable shipping costs.
Can't say the same for Upton teas. I paid a pretty penny for an Assam estate tea that turned that was, without question, near the end of its storage life (essentially lacking good flavor). The company was not exactly gracious or helpful when I called to complain. I also bought a much touted Java black tea, an inexpensive tea that was horrid - couldn't stand the flavor. I did purchase another Assam and Keemun that were OK, but not nearly of the quality of Silver Tips teas. I won't be purchasing from them again, after two large purchases of questionable quality teas (all black).
IF you purchase tea from the latter, buy it in small quantities. Silver Tips teas I purchase by the pound and have rarely been anything less than deeply satisfied. The owner frequently answers the phone and is exceptionally helpful in tea selection. She will also supply samples of teas/blends she thinks you might enjoy with each order.
While not exactly a tea fanciers first choice, CoffeeAM carries bulk teas that are quite good and can be bought at 'wholesale' prices in 1-2 pound quantities that are at least as good as the average quality tea of the popular tea retailers, but a fraction of the price. They are all on sale at present. So, you can purchase a quality Assam or Ceylon, 2 pounds for less than twenty bucks. That should be enough to last at least 4 months or more. They have more exotic and expensive teas (up to $60/lb), but I find their Orange Oolong quite tasty and exceptionally affordable, as well as decent examples of Gunpowder and Dragonwell teas. Their shipping costs are also exceptionally reasonable, even last Spring-Summer, when UPS was charging an arm and a leg for smaller packages.
When one is seriously pinching pennies as many are at present, it's not too much of a stretch to look at what I call 'off-brand' tea suppliers for exceptionally potable teas that one might drink daily or thrice weekly, to buy in affordable larger quantities (1 pound or more).
Why do I make this recommendation, beyond cost? Because of the boom in quality teas offered in the US, at a time when tea prices have finally dropped (from highs in the late 90s thru 2004), when quality of the average estate and most blends is FAR superior to that offered just a decade ago, and when price competition between tea growing regions has soared in response to demand overseas.
For this reason, I also suggest you look at Davidson's Teas. They are located in Nevada and specialize in organic estates and blends. They carry 'chi-chi' flavored blends to cater to the unsophisticated palate of the commoner, but also have reasonably priced, good quality teas in bulk available through Amazon (this is how they keep stock turning over when demand lags supply at various times of the year, to the savvy tea drinkers benefit). They ship under "SuperSavor" status, so that you can pick up 4-5 pounds of tea sans shipping cost.
Never has there been so many fine and affordable teas. Thank god for one of life's wee pleasures!
