India 2004 Tea Tour
The Tea Board of India coordinated a wonderful program for the
Specialty Tea Institute’s Annual Tea Tour, that echoed a once in a
lifetime experience shared by the participants. This two week journey
centralized in Northern India, focused on the Darjeeling region and
gave us a glimpse of what Assam had to offer.
The delegation was able to really sink their “tea” into the heartlands of
Darjeeling. Along with the opportunity to visit some of the most renowned
Tea Estates, we had the pleasure of interacting with the Estate residents,
factory workers, and of course…. the management delighted us with a
first-hand, freshly steeped taste of their delicious teas. In addition
to visiting these Tea Estates and meeting with various Tea Affiliates,
this voyage exposed us to the warmth, spirituality and realistic existence
that India radiates so openly. It was special!
We encourage you to take a deeper look into what the tea tour entailed.
Please share in our journey, compliments of the photo album and scheduled
itinerary. Hope to see you on board next trip!
(Photo Album produced by Brian Kelly, Kisha Omer and Bruce Richardson)
A Special Thank You goes out to everyone who played an important
role in the success of India Tea Tour. This includes: The Tea Board
of India; N.K. Das, Chairman; Sanjay Krishna, Tea Promotion-NY Office;
Rajendra Shukla, Deputy Chairman; M.Dasgupta, Deputy Director of Tea Development;
Rameswar Kujur, Assistant Development Officer; Dipankar Mukherjee, Assistant
Development Officer; Jeevan Pandey, Manager-Castleton T.E.; G.C. Somani, Manager-Tukvar
T.E.; Jaideep Gangopadhya,Manager-Tumsong T.E.; Vikas Garjmer,Manager-Barnesbeg T.E.;
Mrs. Laxmi Limbu Kaushal, Factory Assistant Manager-Barnesbeg T.E.; Anil Bansal,
Manager-Ambootia T.E.; Leslie Ann Jones, Tazo Chai Project Director-Mercy Corps; Sanjeev
Seth-Secretary-Darjeeling Planters Association; Dhiraj Kakati, Secretary-Tea Board of India,
Guwahati; Jayanta Kakati,Secretary-Guwahati Tea Auction Center;
Krishan Katyal, Director-J.Thomas & Co.; PT Siganporia, Managing Director-Tata Tea Ltd.
Thank you, to all who attended! We appreciate your support in continuing this annual event!
Sue Cummings, Tea Memories
Madeline Drexler, Journalist
Brian Kelly, Mrs. Kelly’s Tea
Mindy Kelly, Mrs. Kelly’s Tea
Elizabeth Knight, Tea with Friends
Judy Larkin, The Larkin Tea Company
Kisha Omer, Specialty Tea Institute
Bruce Richardson, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
Maureen Ryan, Notting Hall
Rosemary Staggs, Rosemary’s Tea Time
Yoon Hee Kim, Tea Classics