Really pricey tea :( What's the most you have ever paid?
If anyone can justify or explain how this is worth 60 euros for 100g I’d love to know
http://www.mariagefreres.com/boutique/UK/ft+golden-jamguri-assam-black-tea+T1533.html
No one can justify, especially not a stupid one that payed for it by curiosity… God, how many useful things I could have done with this money… Please don’t do the same mistake! It tastes like shoe polish!
How about this darjeeling priced at 120 euros?
The MF manager in Tokyo said it was overated and not worth the price. He also said he would have no problems selling off the tea with the Mariage Freres name, the special white tin, and especially the high price of 120 euros, regardless of how good or bad the tea is.
He also asked sarcatically if I’d be willing to buy this teapot. I asked him how much and said it’s selling in Paris for 1950 euros.
http://www.mariagefreres.com/boutique/UK/fa+karawan-teapot-gold-plated-0-7-l+A3002.html
MF has name for itself. What it does have is a wide selection with decent grade. Just at a higher price.
Might be worth checking out this tea company as they are probably MF biggest competitors.
http://www.palaisdesthes.com/en/
It’s on my list for one of the shops I’d want to try as they have a store in Tokyo and I’ll be there next week. Also might want to try some TWG teas and or Harrods’ tea. As for Japanese greens, that’s my wife’s territory. She has a certification in Japanese Tea Ceremony.
Excelsior, don’t go in with too high of expectations. Its sortof what I’d expect a love child between MF and Teavana would be like. You can sweet talk them into giving some samples too (or at least I did)
I would probably rank Palais des thes single estate teas as slightly better than MF’s because they don’t have the historical repuation MF has to relay upon. Still over priced though.
Saying that, I do like the owners tea blog.
Just doing some price comparisons between MF and PdT (palais des thes), I guess I will revise my statement I made earlier. They are both over-priced. :) Prices below are for 100 grams, in USD
Margaret’s Hope 2nd Flush MF = 14.88 PdT = 14.50
Orange Valley 1st Flush MF = 17.59 PdT = 40.00
Gielle 1st Flush MF = 23.00 PdT = 45.00
Puttabong 2nd Flush MF = 33.82 PdT = 17.00
This is a very interesting discussion. I have regularly tried most of M.F. Darjeeling teas (1st,2nd,3rd flush) over the last 30 years. I remember Darjeeling (and also Assam) Teas much more fragrant, deep, mysterious, individual… I don’t find this any more. Maybe my taste has changed, but in 2004/5 I discovered remains of old Darjeelings in my cupboard and they were STILL tasting much better than the fresh ones. Then, I also remember the story of M.F.‘s magic tea "Rose d’ Himalaya" an Arya Autumn 3rd flush with a light aftertaste of rose! Pure magic! This particular Arya garden that produced this rarity burned down in 1998. The shop still reproduces and sells a tea under the same name, adding rose oil to a regular Dargeeling. Really NOT the same.
Perhaps as a one off treat. I don’t mind paying a good sum of money for something if it is worth it. Same sort of logic I apply to food in a way.
Just wondered what the general concensus was
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