{"product_id":"happy-valley-black-tea","title":"HAPPY VALLEY (Darjeeling)","description":"Happy Valley's elevation produces a stunning tea with notes of muscatel, toast, wine and subtle peach. An exceptional Darjeeling.\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca class=\"active\" href=\"#tab1\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#tab2\"\u003eProduct Information\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#tab3\"\u003eBrewing Instructions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\" id=\"tab1\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Happy Valley now produces some of Darjeeling's most stunning teas, things haven't always been happy-go-lucky on the estate.In fact, for a period of time in the early part of the new millennium it looked as though the estate, which has been in operation since 1854, would cease production. Factory equipment was falling apart, bush maintenance had fallen by the wayside and labor disputes threatened to shut the entire site down. The future of Happy Valley looked grim. Luckily, the current owners of the Estate, (purchased in the early 2000s) recognized the potential of Happy Valley and have done an incredible job turning the place around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of tea producing pedigree, Happy Valley has virtually no peer. Located just outside the town of Darjeeling, the 437-acre estate sits in the mist-shrouded heights of the Himalayas no fewer than 6800 ft, (2100 m) above sea level. The grounds were first planted by an Englishman, David Wilson, who named it Wilson Tea Estate. As noted earlier, his bushes were first put in the ground in 1854. By 1860, the estate had begun to produce finished tea and word of its quality quickly spread throughout the British Empire. In 1903, Wilson estate was purchased by an Indian aristocrat from Hooghly named Tarapanda Banerjee. In 1929 Banerjee purchased neighbouring Windsor Tea Estate, merged it with Wilson and changed the name to Happy Valley. Things ran along swimmingly until the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union saw India's export market nosedive and with it the ability to modernize and improve estate conditions. (For much of the 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century, the USSR was the primary destination for the bulk of Indian tea production.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the time the estate was purchased by its new owners, Happy Valley's infrastructure was in a sorry state. As mentioned, the tea bushes, which at minimum were 80 years old, ranging to 150 years old, weren't being properly maintained and the factory was so out of date it would end up being turned into a museum. The new management team immediately set about caring for the estate's heritage tea bushes, steadily bringing them back to a pristine state and built a new factory to ensure that the freshly plucked \u003cem\u003edwi paat suiro, \u003c\/em\u003e2 leaves and a bud, would be produced in a manner befitting their exceptional character. Nowadays, Happy Valley's output is considered by many tasters to be better than it has been in over 100 years. We're very pleased to offer this 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e flush TGFOP as a testament to this fine Estate. The exceptionally fine leaf displays all the hallmarks of Darjeeling's finest - lush muscatel notes, soft tones of honey and lightly balanced astringency - an exceptional cup, guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any Darjeeling lover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli id=\"tab2\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Darjeeling\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrade:\u003c\/strong\u003e TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAltitude:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6800 ft (2100 m) above sea level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orthodox\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Luxury black tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCup Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Happy Valley's elevation produces a stunning tea with notes of muscatel, toast, wine and subtle peach. An exceptional Darjeeling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInfusion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden yellow highlights - like the sun over the Himalayas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli id=\"tab3\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Hot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the character of this tea, it is perfectly acceptable consumed straight-up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Cold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(to make 1 liter\/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1\/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or milky when poured over ice - a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Specialist Tea Company","offers":[{"title":"100 g","offer_id":1867312897,"sku":"525-100","price":13.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 g","offer_id":1867312961,"sku":"525-250","price":27.13,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":1867313089,"sku":"525-500","price":41.08,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":1867313153,"sku":"525-1000","price":77.52,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/3859\/products\/525.jpeg?v=1442448726","url":"https:\/\/coasttocoasttea.ca\/products\/happy-valley-black-tea","provider":"Coast To Coast Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}