TEA TIME

Darjeeling

DARJEELING TEA IS A variety used widely across the world. It makes sense then, for tea enthusiasts, to embark on a journey through the estates that grow these tea leaves of global repute. At present, close to 46,000 acres of Darjeeling are covered with tea gardens. Black and oolong, China and Assam, green and white—there are many varieties that come out of the 80-odd tea estates in and around the city. While many estates have adopted the Crush, Tear, Curl (CTC) method of producing tea, some continue to charm with their traditional processes. For an immersive experience, stay at one of the residential tea gardens where the process is demonstrated. They also offer insight into the life of tea workers who carefully nurture the delicate plants and hand-pluck the shoots at the time of harvest. Enjoy the variety of bird life, butterflies, and flora that make up a tea estate’s ecosystem. Relax by the rivers in the vicinity and paddle in the rock pools, as you enjoy a cuppa fresh from the farms.

Clockwise: Tea-leaf fritters served at the Glenburn Tea Estate located in the Kurseong Valley of Darjeeling; the interiors of Glenburn Tea Estate; a tea plantation in Darjeeling; a tea seller recharges with a sip of her own brew.