Rest Assured That Bigelow Tea Darjeeling Is 100 Percent Darjeeling

The smooth, rich taste of Darjeeling tea has a special place in the hearts of tea lovers all over the world. Known as “the champagne of teas,” it is grown only in Darjeeling, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. This exotic region was recently highlighted in a New York Times story chronicling concerns about the authenticity of some teas marketed as Darjeeling. We think this article provides Bigelow Tea with the perfect opportunity to reassure our loyal tea consumers that our Darjeeling is 100 percent Darjeeling. That means our Darjeeling tea is never blended with teas from other regions!

As the Times article noted, some wholesalers sell Darjeeling blends as a way to capitalize on the popularity of Darjeeling tea while limiting cost and boosting volume. Darjeeling tea is significantly more expensive than teas from other regions because of limited production. There are just 87 certified tea gardens in the Darjeeling district. Precious real estate, indeed! The good news for consumers is that tea growers and the Indian government have initiated increasingly successful efforts to protect the Darjeeling name and the distinctive tea grown there, 5,000 feet above sea level in a climate that is just about perfect for delicate tea plants.

“In a decision this year, the European Union agreed to phase out the use of ‘Darjeeling’ on blended teas. Now, just as a bottle of Cognac must come from the region around the French town of Cognac, a cup of Darjeeling tea will have to be made only from tea grown around Darjeeling,” according to the Times.

Bigelow Tea wholeheartedly endorses these protections. Moreover, we work only with ethical suppliers who are as committed to quality as we are. So enjoy your next cup of Bigelow Tea Darjeeling knowing it is the real deal!

Photo by Jadis1958 via Flickr.com