Knowledge bites
We like to engage with our customers by sharing some of the resourceful & interesting information related to the products we offer. The little details that you always thought you knew or you wished to know to improve your 'PQ' - Product Quotient.
So, grab a cup pf tea, put your feet up, take a deep breath and get started..
Tea grading
Our teas coming from India are graded as FTGFOP for black teas and TGFOP for Green teas, which are the main grades of Tea in Darjeeling and Assam. This is a TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) has the highest proportion of tip compared to other lower grades, and the . FTGFOP (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) is a superior quality tea known for its fully rolled leaves
Suitable tea times
Drinking our Green tea or Black tea in the mornings will keep you energised as they are packed with herbs and spices, giving you a fresh start of the day. And as the day passes by, you would like to drink either a a fruit tea or try a Rooibos which are both caffein free. Chamomile tea is commonly seen as a mild tranquilliser, hence preferred by many as a drink before bedtime to help induce sleep
Tea Storage
Tea leaves continue to oxidise over time with exposure to oxygen. The more broken the leaves are, the higher the surface area in contact with air. More broken leaves will deteriorate faster. To avoid this happening, check the quality of tea (tea leaf grade) before buying. And always your store your tea in a dark/opaque air-tight container as light can degrade the tea quality
Tea learning
Steeping tea
To get started, always make tea with fresh water, not water that has been previously boiled or has been sitting around. Add 2.5g to 3g of tea to a tea infuser for brewing 240ml of Tea in a cup. A medium sized cup infuser is recommended to let the tea leaves open fully when infused in boiling water. According to the type of tea chosen, follow the steeping times mentioned and enjoy it
Wellness teas
A herbal tea blend or an herbal “tisane” is a combination of a variety of plant herbs, spices, berries, barks, roots, and flowers that are steeped in boiling water for a few minutes to bring out the essence of natural herbs. Along with the calming & healing properties of the herbs, the tea blend helps to improve the overall wellness and boost immunity in our body
Saffron - The Red Gold
Saffron harvest
Red coloured saffron strands are the stigma of a purple flower known as 'Crocus'. Each crocus bulb produces only one flower and each flower produces only three stigmas. Saffron growers can work up to 19 hour a day during harvesting to pluck these stigmas by hand and dry them for packaging. Due to the manual processing, the spice is difficult to harvest and expensive to purchase
Pure saffron
The price of saffron differs from country to country and varies in quality. To check saffron for its purity, soak a few threads in cup of water and wait for few minutes. Real saffron slowly turns the water yellow. The saffron threads themselves retain their red colour. If the water changes its colour immediately or turns red or does not change colour, then it has been artificially coloured and not real
The Luxury of Cashmere
Cashmere wool
Cashmere is the name given to the precious hair of the cashmere goat. The name is derived from the region of Kashmir in India. The Cashmere goat (Pashmina goat) grows a thick warm fleece and is a breed of goat raised to produce cashmere wool in areas of Ladakhi Changthang, the mountainous landscapes of Himalayas where the temperatures can drop as low as -40 °C during winter
100% Cashmere
A pure cashmere scarf is made of high-quality Cashmere wool which is is wonderfully soft and very light. It gives the feeling of a gentle embrace when it comes in contact with the skin. It is water-repellent, has excellent thermal insulation as the fibers are extremely fine and flexible. The hair that makes up the wool com share the quality characteristic of being 50 % lighter than the ordinary woo
Art of weaving
The art of weaving a Pashmina by hand is passed down for centuries in Kashmir, India and seen as a timeless grace. The traditional handwoven craft requires the finest craftsmanship for skilled weaving and embroidery designing of beautiful densely populated floral and paisley patterns. It takes around six months to a year for a craftsman to finish his work on one scarf and get it ready
Gentle care
Care for cashmere as you care for your hair. Gentle hand wash with a mild shampoo is recommended for the care or a dry clean. Small imperfections are normal with handmade products and variations in colour occur due to the traditional method in which they are dyed to avoid harsh chemicals on them. Small bobbles may appear with the usage, but disappear with a gentle hand wash
Real Vs Counterfeit
When popularity of cashmere rose to new heights, plenty of commercial traders stepped in to take advantage by producing counterfeit items. To identify its authenticity, check if the cashmere is shiny or causes itching on your skin. If it does, then it is a counterfeit product. Pricing is another differentiating factor. If the price is low, then it is too good to be true. Watch for these signs before you buy
Satisfaction Guarantee
Our objective is to provide a quality that gains appreciation over time. We work directly with the local associations & individual businesses around the world to get the best quality from small, individually owned farmers and craftsmen who need financial upliftment in exchange for superior quality of products