
Darjeeling, as the british mispronounced ”Dorjeeling”, was an experiment that started for breaking the monopoly of Chinese tea control over the world tea market. It was expanded in the regions of Dorjeeling by the British after the Indo Nepal war. This successful venture of the British led to the birth of a number of tea gardens run and managed by various Indo-European entrepreneurs in the pre as well as a post-independence era, employing cheap Nepali laborers. Due to the natural adaptability of the Nepali people, especially in the higher altitudes of Himalayas, lucrative outputs were rendered from the initial phase of the industry till date. The efficiency and strength of the mountain people drastically changed the vast area of dense forest into a monoculture of Darjeeling tea industry which flourished around the world. Almost all the gardens were named with ethnic folk terms. Currently, there are around 87 tea gardens in Darjeeling which spread over seven valleys of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
The location of the tea gardens also plays a significant role in the taste and the character of the tea due to its topographical differences. Gardens facing east are liable to get more tender sun than the west which notably influences the taste due to longer sunlight compared to the west. The appreciation of taste entirely depends upon the drinker’s choice and their habits of drinking the tea. Our teas are named after the garden and production year, in order to trace the origin of the particular tea estate or tea garden which makes Himalayan Dorjeeling tea more authentic.
Each garden is inhabited by families working for many generations, plucking and tending the garden for producing the fantastic taste. Many tea gardens are certified as organic by the United States Department of Agriculture, whereas some remain conventional nevertheless producing high-quality champagne throughout the year.
Below is the list of the tea gardens where the champagnes grow with their traditional names:
DARJEELING EAST
Risheehat Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Chongtong/ Sirisi Tea Estate (ORGANIC))
Liza Hill Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Dooteriah (Kallej Valley) Tea Estate
Tumsong Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Lingia Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Orange Valley/Bloomfield Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
DARJEELING WEST
Ging Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Badamtam Tea Estate
Bannockburn Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Pandam Tea Estate
Barnesbeg Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Phoobsering Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Happy Valley Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Singtam Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
North Tukvar Tea Estate
Rungneet Tea Estate
Phuttabong Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Rangaroon Tea Estate
Steinthal Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Soom Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
KURSEONG NORTH
Margaret’s Hope Tea Estate
Ambootia Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Moondakotee Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Oaks Tea Estate
Balasun Tea Estate
Edenvale Tea Estate
Dilaram Tea Estate
Ringtong Tea Estate
Springside Tea Estate
Singell Tea Estate
KURSEONG SOUTH
Castelton Tea Estate
Tindharia Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Jungapana Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Giddhapahar Tea Estate
Sivitar Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Goomtee Tea Estate
Nurbong Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Jogamaya Tea Estate
Seepoydhoorah Tea Estate
Mohan Majhua Tea Estate
Makaibari Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Longview Tea Estate
Mahalderam Tea Estate
Monteviot Tea Estate
Mullootar Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Narbada Majhua Tea Estate
Rohini Tea Estate
Selim Hill Tea Estate
MIRIK
Sourenee Tea Estate
Gopaldhara Tea Estate
Seeyok Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Gayabari and Millikthong Tea Estate
Okayti Tea Estate
Phuguri Tea Estate
Thurbo Tea Estate
Singbulli Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
RUNGBONG
Dhajea Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Avongrove Tea Estate
Chamong Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Nagri Farm Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Nagari Tea Estate
Upper Fagu Tea Estate
Selimbong Tea Estate
Sungma Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Turzum Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Tukdah Tea Estate (ORGANIC)
Teesta Valley Tea Estate
TEESTA
Runglee Rungliot Tea Estate
Ambiok/Hillton Tea Estate
Gielle Tea Estate
Lopchu Tea Estate
Samabeong Tea Estate
Glenburn Tea Estate
Kumai/Snow View Tea Estate
Namring/Upper Namring Tea Estate