Darjeeling  

Giddapahar Tea Estate

Giddapahar, which translates to eagle peak in English is located in the heart of the ever pleasant Darjeeling district. It was founded in 1881 is a family owned garden that does large scale production of the world famous Darjeeling Tea.  Although it is a small area of 115 hectares with 94 hectares covered with tea bushes. This tea estate produces one of the finest quality of Darjeeling tea, which is famous across the world. It features a unique combination of traditional China, Clonal and Assam bushes. It also produces green teas in the month of July every year. The land expanse is 115 hectares of which 94 hectares is covered with tea bushes. They produce about 30,000 kg of tea per year.

It is the hard work, diligence of the owners that has earned this physically not so huge tea estate to earn a huge name for it’s unique and premium quality tea.

Jungpana Tea Estate

This tea estate was first started by British planter Mr. Henry Montogomery Lennox, in 1899 who planted the first tea saplings. Located in the Darjeeling district, across the picturesque view of Changey Khola and surrounded by Goomtee Tea Estate, Sivitar Tea Estate and Mahalderm Tea Estate on three sides. Since 1956, it has been owned by the esteemed Kejriwal family.  It is one of the only tea estates that uses original British Machinery that has been maintained through all these years to make tea, which adds to the perfect processing of tea. It has consistently produced high quality tea for tea connoisseurs and drinkers alike.  They are known for their exquisite quality produce of green, black and oolong tea.

Goomtee Tea Estate

Goomtee is located amidst the lush abundance of tea estates nestled around it. It shares close proximity with Jungpana and Catleton. British Planter Henry Montogomery was the first to plant teas here in 1899. It was later sold to the Kejriwal family  who have continued the ownership until now. The plantation has a total area of 225 hectares out of which more than 110 hectares are under cultivation of tea. The plantation produces black and oolong teas. Their second flush china bush is a popular variety.

Gopaldhara Tea Estate

Gopaldhara is located in the Mirik Valley, in Darjeeling and is one of the highest tea plantations in the district (5500 ft-7000 ft). Founded in 1881, before which the land was used to cultivate paddy. The tea seeds took very well to the weather and a new name was created that would charm tea lovers across with their fine quality teas. The total area of the garden is 320 Hectares of which 172 Hectares has been planted with tea bushes.  The estate boasts of exquisite qualities of white, green, oolong and black teas.

 Rohini Tea Estate

Rohini estate is located in the Kurseong Valley in Darjeeling district. The plantation is the newest in Darjeeling. It was shut for over 38 years and was reopened in the year 2000. From its original expanse of 1300 hectares, 38 hectares still remains. Today, the total cultivated area of the garden is around 146 Hectares of which 108 Hectares is young tea. Rohini produces delightful muscatel rich teas in summer, in its new age factory.

 Selim Tea Estate

Selim tea estate is located in the serene Kurseong Valley owes its birth to locally popular gentleman, Selim Saheb (Mr. Henry). Mr. Henry set up the plantation in 1870. This estate is adjacent to Rohini tea Estate, Giddapahar Tea Estate and Jogmaya Tea Estate. The plantation features pure china tea bushes.

Nilgiris 

Glendale Tea Estate

Glendale Tea Estate is located in the vast south Indian range of Nilgiris that began in 1835. Glendale means, a valley within a valley and stands true to its name with its arresting scenic charm. The total planted area is 525 hectares and yields more than 3,000 kgs of tea per hectare. It has a state of the art factory that produces Orthodox Black tea, Green Tea and Speciality Tea. Owing to its weather which is cold, dry and misty the leaves are brisk, golden colour with distinct savoury floral aroma.

 Craigmore Tea Estate

Craigmore Plantations was originally incorporated in the UK in 1884, as Ceylon Land and Produce Company. In 1977 was purchased by Indoo Shivdasani of the Inlaks Group and remained as Craigmore Plantations (India). The estate produces High Grown Orthodox black teas and High Grown Pan fired green tea for its loyal customer base worldwide. The expanse of the plantation is approximately 1200 hectares.

 Pascoe’s Woodland Tea Estate

Pascoe’s Woodland is located in the Nilgiri hills located in Southern India. It is one of the two factories owned and managed by Craigmore Plantation by the Inlaks Group. It produces high quality pan fired green tea that clocks at 0.7 million kgs per year.  The teas from the tea estate are premium quality orthodox teas and most of their produce is exported.

 Havukal Tea Estate

Havukal Tea Estate is located in the famous South Indian Nilgiris Hills.  It was set in 2009 and has been one of the most productive tea gardens in the region with a yield of 3 million kg per annum. The expansive land of 400 acres at 1000 to 2500 mts above sea level, was inaugurated by Hugh Fennell, who extensively planted the hill with Assam tea between 1910 and 1920. Today, it produces a wide variety of orthodox black teas and speciality teas throughout the year with no dormant season and around 85% of their produce is exported.

 Chamraj Tea Estate

Chamraj is located in the serene green Nilgiris range of Southern India, at an elevation of 6500 ft. It was founded in 1922 and produces high quality black, green, and oolong orthodox tea. It’s factory not only credits itself with producing fine quality tea but is also the largest in the Nilgiris region.

Korakundah Tea Estate

Korakundah tea estate is located in the Nilgiris range of Southern India. It is spread across 2200 acres of hill and is part of the UNTE (United Nilgiris Tea Estates) which was founded in 1858 by Sir Robery Stanes. It had gained entry in the Limca Book of National Records as the ‘highest tea garden in the country’ with tea planted at 8,060 feet. The expanse of the estate is 925 hectares, of which 275 hectares is the planted area, while a substantial area is retained as unpolluted grassland and water-body. It is completely organic and has developed its own self sufficient input unit, housing 180 cows, helping them use cow dung for compost.

FAQ’s:

1. Which is the biggest tea garden in India?

The largest tea growing area in the world is found in Assam. Also, Assam is the largest contributor of tea in India.

      2. Which is the tea capital of India?

A long-felt need of the tea planters across six contiguous eastern Assam districts becomes a reality. Auctioning, a preferred marketing system of the tea industry, has reached Assam's “tea capital” Jorhat almost two centuries after striking roots there.