Makaibari tea estate comes up with limited edition blend to celebrate King Charles coronation

 Rudra Chatterjee recounted that King Charles’ love for Darjeeling tea is no secret — a habit he takes after his mother Queen Elizabeth II

TT, Calcutta, 06.05.23 : If Fortnum’s can do it, so can Makaibari.

The famous London-based department store, which supplies groceries and provisions to the British Royal family, has come up with a plethora of merchandise to mark the coronation of King Charles III, like many other retailers in the United Kingdom.

Among the items celebrating the historic event, special blends of tea feature prominently.

Makaibari tea estate, the oldest in the world, has also done its bit. Commissioned exclusively by the British Deputy High Commission, Calcutta, the Darjeeling estate has come up with a limited edition ‘coronation blend’ to celebrate the event on Saturday.

Only 1,000 boxes of the special brew, totalling 100 kilogram, will be available this month, said Rudra Chatterjee, managing director of Luxmi Tea Estate, which owns the Makaibari garden.

The high commission will give away the tin caddy to guests who have been invited to attend the celebratory evening reception hosted by it on Saturday.

Chatterjee recounted that King Charles’ love for Darjeeling tea is no secret — a habit he takes after his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles is a connoisseur of Makaibari tea as well and sent a letter appreciating it on May 26, 2017 when he was the Prince of Wales.

This particular blend, which Makaibari hopes to sell from its own retail outlets, especially the new one opened at the Calcutta Airport, comprises Oolong, muscatel and sweet flowery note and the leaves were plucked this spring, Chatterjee said.

Word has it that King Charles has a unique way to drink his Darjeeling tea — with honey and milk.

The royal butlers are expected to prepare the tea in a particular way — one teaspoon of tea leaves per tea cup plus an extra for the pot.

The water has to be heated to 70 degree centigrade for green tea and 100 degree centigrade for Earl Grey or English Breakfast blends and measured by a thermometer. The green tea served to him is expected to be brewed for 3 minutes and black tea for 5 minutes.