South Asian Business news and information

India produces both high and low quality tea. The Darjeeling tea is very famous all over the world. Since, the tea is grown in Darjeeling, a small town in West Bengal it is called Darjeeling tea. However, Darjeeling tea mainly refers to the black tea produced in Darjeeling. Other kinds of tea such as, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea are also produced in Darjeeling.

The history of tea in Darjeeling goes back to the colonial period. A British civil surgeon, Dr. Campbell, was experimenting with tea seeds in the back yard of his house. In nineteenth century, tea gardens started in Darjeeling. 

The first gardens were Tukvar, Steinthal and Aloobari tea estates. The seeds used in these gardens were produced in government nurseries.   

At present there are 86 gardens over 19,000 hectares of land. The production is 10 to 11 million kilograms. According to the demand this is very small quantity.  

There are three harvests in a year. Spring time harvest which starts from late February to the middle of April. June harvest leaves are more developed and the liquor is bright. Autumnal harvest depends on the weather.  

Useful links:

http://darjeelingtea.com/history.htm

http://www.teamuse.com/article_030401.html

http://www.darjeelingnews.net/darjeeling_tea.html

http://www.englishteastore.com/darjeelingtea.html

http://www.darjeelingcuppa.com/