Darjeeling Tea Garden: Aromatic Hills

The Darjeeling Tea Garden offers a unique experience blending natural beauty and rich history. Darjeeling, often called the 'Queen of the Hills,' is world-famous for its lush tea estates that cultivate some of the finest teas. A visit allows one to witness tea cultivation in detail. The story of Darjeeling tea began around 1850 when Dr. Campbell planted tea seeds in his garden in Beechwood. By 1866, there were 39 tea gardens, and by 1874, the venture was deemed profitable. Today, Darjeeling boasts approximately 86 tea gardens that harvest around 10 million kilograms of tea annually. The British East India Company took control of Darjeeling in 1835, and Dr. Archibald Campbell started experimenting with tea plants in 1841, planting Chinese tea saplings. The success led to the establishment of tea estates, with the first commercial tea garden, Steinthal Tea Estate, established in 1852. Visitors can walk amidst vast plantations, witness workers plucking tea leaves, and gain insight into tea production. Guided tours often begin at the tea factory, providing an overview of the tea-making process. These tours include demonstrations of withering, rolling, fermenting, drying, and sorting tea leaves. The experience usually ends with a tea-tasting session, allowing visitors to sample various black, green, oolong, and white teas. Many estates offer factory tours, showing how green leaves are transformed into aromatic black tea.