It is quite natural that the word “tea” comes to our mind when we hear the term Darjeeling. Darjeeling teas are known to be one of the best teas around the world. India produces the most exclusive teas in the Darjeeling and due to its fine taste, it is often referred to as the “Champagne of teas”. We must admit that the title is well-deserving too. Its superior quality flavour is often attributed to the perfect location where it is grown. One should try out the magical taste of this masterpiece and indulge in experiencing the goodness of this supreme quality Indian tea.
The history of this royal beverage dates back to 1841. Initially, the seeds from Botanical Gardens, Calcutta were planted. But it only produced inferior quality tea. The experimental tea cultivation of 1841 in Darjeeling was headed by Dr Archibald Campbell, the then Superintendent of the Darjeeling District. Superior quality Darjeeling tea was produced when Robert Fortune, a Scottish botanist commissioned by the Horticultural Society of London, brought around 20,000 tea plants from Northern China and planted them in the fertile soils of India. There is an interesting reason why the Brits starting tea plantations in India. Back then, they never wanted to depend on China and wished to set up their own source of tea supply. Started off with a few plantations of around 1000 acres, this small hilly area in the eastern part of India, is now one of the largest producers of superior quality tea in the world.
Why is this tea a celebration of unique flavours? It’s the altitude and the fertile soil. As the altitude increases, the taste of the tea can also improve. This “Champagne of teas” is named so because of the golden colour of the brew. The flowery, delicate scent that emanates from a cup of tea often reminds us of ‘Muscatel’ grapes and hence the name. The tea plants are grown at altitudes between 4000 -7000ft above sea level, thereby getting maximum UV exposure, resulting in the formation of Flavonoids that impart the sweet yet strong flavour to the tea. The uniqueness of Darjeeling tea can also be attributed to the production processes. Instead of mechanized manufacturing processes, Darjeeling teas are still manufactured using the Orthodox method. This helps in retaining the royal, classy and luxurious taste of the tea.
The feel of authentic “Indian” tea is what attracts a lot of consumers from across the globe. Since tea is an inevitable part of English households, a major chunk of India’s Darjeeling tea is exported to the UK. This is followed by exports to Japan, Denmark, Germany and emerging markets like South Korea, Iran and Russia. The irreplaceable taste of Darjeeling tea has bought much fame to India along with the GI tag (Geographical Indicator tag). The love for Indian teas due to their superior quality and authenticity is well known to us. Amongst our extensive variety of Indian Teas, the royal taste of Darjeeling tea is unmatched and a cup of this tea will bring cheer and transport you to the mighty misty mountains of Darjeeling.