AN ELGIN EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
With banana bread aside, a cup of tea could bring a lot to a table. This mysterious steamy potion poured gracefully into an antique unusual shaped cup brings stories of all the 1800 years it has travelled. An era where it all started, a small garden plantation has transformed with the label – Fine wine of teas and became one of the most consumed beverages around the world, all boiling down to a lush and pleasant location – Darjeeling.
If you are a tea lover you must know about the speciality of this conurbation, if not, planning a trip to Darjeeling would explicate itself abutting with acres of tea plantations. Admiring the scenic views of the majestic Khangchendzonga mountain: windows flung open, putting a foot up on a chilly morning and gradually sipping on the bright earthy crisp cup of tea – seems like a usual morning in this pleasant and buoyant hill station.
The British introduced tea to the Himalayan province of West Bengal in the mid-nineteenth century, and the expansive tea farms, clubs, and bungalows are just a few illustrations of a luxurious lifestyle being embraced among some. The best part would be that you, too, can have a slice of the pie and assist Darjeeling’s rich archival tea legacy. If you’re seeking a traditional tea experience, we have some terrific options.
Image by The Telegraph
Sourenee Tea Estate & Boutique Resort, in Darjeeling district, is such a slow burn of a nest. On a quieter slant of Mirik Valley at 4,500ft, it lures you to be lazy
Sourenee Tea Estate
Sourenee, an elite tea estate, located 7 kilometres before Mirik Valley on the Siliguri-Mirik-Darjeeling route. The estate hosts a lovely resort: a three-story luxury bungalow with modern luxuries and an old-world charm. For an awe-strucking moment just hurl the windows and there you are, gazing the finest views of the luscious tea gardens, the Mirik valley, and even the peaks of Nepal.
Image and caption by Huffpuff
A variety of premium teas are laid out for tasting at the Makaibari Tea Estate in Kurseong, West Bengal, India
Makaibari Tea Estate
One of Darjeeling’s oldest tea estates, Makaibari was the first to build a factory in 1859. They produce the most expensive tea in Darjeeling and have been run by the Banerjees – the original pioneer family – for the last four generations. They provide the most charming colonial-era accommodations for guests in Darjeeling.
Image and caption by Citizen – Femme
To be descended from the heavens and be perched on the clouds – that’s the sensibility an experience at the Glenburn Tea Estate gives you.
Glenburn Tea Estate
Glenburn, arguably the most well-known, is an idyllic escape for tea connoisseurs. Founded in 1860 by Scottish tea planters, a sprawling tea estate encompassing nearly 1,600 acres of gorgeous vistas, rolling hills, river valleys, and quaint towns.
Image and caption by prlog.org
Chamong Chiabari offers Guests Luxurious Stay at a Tea Resort in Darjeeling
Chamong Tea Plantation
Chamong Tea Estate spans 900 acres and features a tea plantation, a tea factory, and a tea pickers’ town. The adjacent thick, deciduous forests present idiosyncratic walking trails, with the extraordinary grandeur of the rolling hills lurking in the rear.
Image by moxon.net
The picture from Darjeeling- The Happy Valley Tea Estate factory. It is considered to be the oldest tea estate in Darjeeling along with being one of the highest tea producers of the world
Happy Valley Tea Estate
The Happy Valley Tea Estate hugs the misty peaks of Darjeeling, looking out across the rich Himalayan foothills. Its history is intertwined with the origin and cultivation of Darjeeling tea, – established in 1854. This garden in Darjeeling is home to stunningly green landscapes that exude a genuine, breath-taking beauty.
Image by 1001things.org
Always crowded with popularity of the diversity of taste and the menu – Keventers needs to be a must visit to indulge into the taste of history
If diversity is the soul of wit, enjoy Keventers in Darjeeling town, which provides over 22 wide variants of tea. They also have rooftop sitting where you may sip your tea while soaking in the warmth of the mountain sun. Finally, if you’ve maxed your Darjeeling options but still have a tea obligation to satisfy, catch a train to Kurseong. You’ll find Cochrane Place, and its one-of-a-kind tiny café is a must-see. The café, Chai Country, is inspired after tea and trains. The entrance of the café is designed like an engine, and the windows feature spouts. Cochrane Place provides tea baths, tea facials, and tea-based menus!
Darjeeling and its vicinity offer a plethora of tea experiences. Plan a trip to steer clear of the fear of missing out and indulge yourself in the timeless elegance of a bygone era that has not been forgotten but preserved.
