International Tea Day

 21 May : International Tea Day

21st May is observed as International Tea Day . Darjeeling Tea of India is famous all over the world but unfortunately no stamp has been issued by India Post on Darjeeling tea. Special Covers are  are scarce to find.... This special post is dedicated to the tea lovers !

International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, according to the United Nations. The concerning resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019 and calls on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to lead the observance of the Day

The International Tea Day aims to raise awareness of the long history and the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world. The goal of the day is to promote and foster collective actions to implement activities in favour of the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

An International Tea Day has been celebrated on December 15, since 2005, in tea producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda and Tanzania. International Tea Day aims to draw global attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on workers and growers, and has been linked to requests for price supports and fair trade.

View : National Tea Day

New scented stamp from India..

Coffee

Date of Issue : 23 April 2017

Department of Posts released commemorative postage miniature sheet   with  the  fragrance of Coffee on 23rd April 2017.

The Scented Coffee stamp was released yesterday at Meghdoot Auditorium, Bengaluru G.P.O by  Nirmala Sitharaman along with the Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha,Former Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa and Member of Parliament Shobha Karandlaje .

Coffee production in India   is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, with the state of Karnataka  accounting 71% followed by Kerala 21% and Tamil Nadu 5% of production of 8,200 tonnes. Indian coffee is said to be the finest coffee grown in the shade rather than direct sunlight anywhere in the world. There are approximately 250,000 coffee growers in India.

Coffee trees are pruned short to conserve their energy and aid in harvesting, but can grow to more than 30 feet (9 meters) high. Each tree is covered with green, waxy leaves growing opposite each other in pairs. Coffee cherries grow along the branches. Because it grows in a continuous cycle, it’s not unusual to see flowers, green fruit and ripe fruit simultaneously on a single tree.

It takes nearly a year for a cherry to mature after first flowering, and about 5 years of growth to reach full fruit production. While coffee plants can live up to 100 years, they are generally the most productive between the ages of 7 and 20. Proper care can maintain and even increase their output over the years, depending on the variety. The average coffee tree produces 10 pounds of coffee cherry per year, or 2 pounds of green beans.

All commercially grown coffee is from a region of the world called the Coffee Belt. The trees grow best in rich soil, with mild temperatures, frequent rain and shaded sun.

Release of Commemorative Postage Stamp on Platinum Jubilee of Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training, Jabalpur

 Date of Issue : 22 April 2017

: Suresh R. & Jagannath Mani - Bangalore

For Tea lovers…

 

Teas from Taiwan

 

Date of of Issue: 12 September 2012

Hi Here is a beautiful souvenir sheet Issued by Chunghwa ( Taiwan) Post . This souvenir sheet features teas from Taiwan. It’s a lovely souvenir sheet featuring  five different varieties of tea and special cups and kettle. I love green tea very much so this souvenir sheet just caught my attention and I am happy to write about this issue here !!

Teas produced in Taiwan are celebrated around the world for their quality. Based on the degree of fermentation, teas are categorized into several kinds: non-fermented tea (green tea), fully-fermented tea (black tea) and partially fermented varieties. The last is widely known as "Baozhong tea" in Taiwan's academic circle; it is further categorized by the differences of shape: "strip," "semi-ball type" and "ball type." The latter two are commonly known as Oolong tea and Tieguanyin tea.

To encourage better understanding in teas, Chunghwa Post features Baozhong, Tieguanyin, Black tea, Oolong and Oriental Beauty teas as theme for "Teas of Taiwan Souvenir Sheet" with five stamps.

The bottom of every stamp is accentuated with the featured tea variety and a cup of tea, and each stamp is set against the tourist attraction of the tea region in single color, complemented by a miniature teapot cutout on the upper right corner. Marginal inscription of the souvenir sheet is inspired by a tea-drinking scenario that manifests the timelessness of Taiwan 's tea culture.

The designs follow:
1. Baozhong tea (NT＄10): A lightly fermented tea, the liquid is honey-gold in color with a pleasant aroma, and a smooth, refreshing taste. It is grown primarily in Pinglin, Shiding in New Taipei City and Wenshan, Nangang in Taipei City . The backdrop of the stamp is set against the Pinglin Tea Museum .

2. Tieguanyin tea (NT＄10): A partially fermented tea, Tieguanyin is more oxidized than Oolongs. The liquid is amber in color, with a slightly acidic and fruity zest; it is mellow, sweet and smooth to the taste. Tieguanyin is produced primarily in Muzha in Taipei City . The Maokong Gondola is the backdrop of the design.

 
3. Black tea (NT＄10): A fully fermented variety, the liquid is a beautiful reddish brown with a light caramel aroma and rich flavor. Black teas are grown mostly in Yuchi in Nantou County and Ruisui in Hualian. The stamp is set against the Sun Moon Lake wharf.

4. Oolong tea (NT＄10): A partially fermented tea, the liquid is bright golden-yellow with strong fragrance. Nantou and Jiayi Counties are the primary Oolong-growing regions. The famed Alishan Forest Train is the backdrop of this stamp.

5. Oriental Beauty tea (NT＄10): Synonymous with White Tip Oolong, this variety is heavily fermented. The liquid is reddish orange that smacks of nectar or ripe fruit, with a rich and smooth aroma. The tea is grown in Emei, Beipu in Xinzhu County , Toufen in Miali County , Pinglin and Shiding in New Taipei City . The stamp features the suspension bridge astride Emei Lake in the backdrop.

 

My  Rainbow Covers…

 

I Just received this nice cover with rainbow stamp and FDC sent by my friend Andrzej Panachida from Poznan, Poland. Thanks Andrzej for these covers for my collection I was looking for this FDC  for my Rainbow collection.. Many Many Thanks !!

Andrzej Panachida, Poznan - Poland

Aerogrammes featuring Birds and Fishes..

 

 

 

Here I wish to share beautiful Postal stationery issued by Vanuatu Post. These are colorful Aerogrammes depicting Birds and Fishes. These aerogrammes are quite suitable for thematic collection on birds and fishes. Vanuatu Post has also issued a set of 4 stamps on 23 March 2011 featuring famous Coffee from Vanuatu. The stamps are wonderful showing a variety of coffee flavours. The First Day Cancellation is equally good showing a hot coffee cup. The designs of the stamps are very nice and on first glimpse , the stamps give  aroma of hot Tanna Coffee from Vanuatu….Just enjoy a nice cup of coffee through today’s Post…  Also read thrilling details of Underwater Post Office of Vanuatu…This for all for Today…… Till Next Post….Have  a Great Time !!

Tanna Coffee – The Taste of Vanuatu…

 

Date of Issue – 23 March - 2011

The Tanna Coffee Development Company was established in Tanna in 1982, to assist Vanuatu soon after its independence.   The process of famous Tanna Coffee  begins with the hand picked cherries being processed at 35 pulperies on Tanna. The cherries are pulped, naturally fermented, washed, screened and sun-dried prior to transportation to the Dry Processing Factory. Here the dry skins are removed, 'green beans' graded according to size and then bagged ready for shipping to Port Vila. The coffee beans are then carefully roasted as part of the 25 steps in the process from the 'plantation to the cup'. Modern international standard packaging completes the process. Currently, all coffee is sold in roasted and packaged form through Tanna Coffee’s facility in Port Vila with 70% being distributed locally and the balance being exported overseas. The Roasting Factory has now been developed to cater for tourist visits.

 

 

Underwater Post Office of Vanuatu Post

Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office, found just off Hideaway Island near Port Vila, has quickly become one of the busiest post offices for postcards in the world!
Visitors from around the world have literally donned their mask and snorkels, postcards in hand to experience the world’s first underwater post office.

And they have not been disappointed. The Post Office is only 50 metres offshore and at just three metres below the surface, is very accessible to the young and young at heart. Thousands of visitors have posted one of the special waterproof postcards available in Vanuatu; these cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained scuba divers and “cancelled” underwater with an embossing cachet. Mail that requires a normal Underwater Post Office date stamp is cancelled in the Main Post Office.

Since opening in 2003, the underwater post office has received an estimated 100,000 visitors. The underwater branch is manned daily for usually about an hour, longer on cruise ship days or with demand.

“I love working at the underwater branch,” says VPL’s Samuel Robert. “It’s great fun and really pleasing to see so many visitors each day who cannot believe their eyes!”
Vanuatu Post has released two stamp issues commemorating the world’s first underwater post office.

: Vanuatu Post