How often have you been asked this question, “ Are you are tea or coffee person”?
Tea, one of the preferred morning drink for most people, the second most-consumed drink other than water and a perfect start to one’s morning. Ask any tea addict, how pale their life would be without tea and you will find them tearing up. Whether it is morning, mid-morning, a work break, evening walk or a quick walk to your favourite tapri for a special cutting as tea is fondly called.
Statistically speaking, China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Indonesia make roughly 77% of the world’s population and 80% of global exports, tea is one of the most preferred and refreshing sips for almost every next individual.
As a tea lover, we are sure visiting a tea plantation and being around tea is not any less of an adventure for you. The Flapper Life suggest 7 tea plantations spread across India which surely needs a visit.
1. Darjeeling – Glenburn tea estate
An hour away from Darjeeling, the Glenburn tea estate spread across 1600 acre land, tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, is nothing short of majestic beauty. On one side of the plantation is the lush tea garden and on the other side is the snow-clad Kanchenjunga. The estate offers a beautiful bungalow with eight well-kept suites around the mountains, not to mention the aromas from the tea plantation to soothe your nerves.
Best time to visit: April to June
2. Assam - Gatoonge tea estate
Touted to be the largest tea producing estate in the country, with a history of 100 years, this colonial heritage place is the best place to see how tea powder is made. This ‘ tea capital of the world’ is nestled in the Brahmaputra valley, today which is famous for Assam tea powder.
Best time to visit: March to October
3. Munnar- Nallathanni tea estate
A signature tea garden of Munnar and the renowned tata tea museum is located in Nallathanni tea estate. Munnar is surrounded by tea gardens through its curvy roads, the tea garden in Munnar is a major tourist attraction and the entire area of Munnar smells of aromatic tea leaves.
Best time to visit: December to February
4. Himachal Pradesh – Darang tea estate
One of the oldest tea gardens in India, the Darang tea estate is located in the Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas. A major tourist attraction, this tea garden extends over 70 acres of land and also allows the tourist to trek through its extensive plantations.
Best time to visit: February to June
5. Tamil Nadu – Nilgiri Tea plantations.
Unlike other tea plantations that grow tea seasonally, the Nilgiri tea plantation grows tea throughout the year and is famous for its dark and strong aromatic tea. The famous tea estate in the Nilgiris situated in the western ghats is the High field tea factory, Kodanand estate, Lockart tea estate and Vigneshwar Estate.
Best time to visit: October to February
6. Karnataka – Kelagur tea estate
This tea estate is known for its organic process of tea making. Spread across 1500 acres, this 70-year-old tea estate allows you to visit the factory and explore the estate to discover the traditional techniques that they use for making tea.
Best time to visit: October to April
7. Sikkim temi tea garden
The only tea garden in Sikkim, located in the south of Sikkim on a land measuring 440 acres. The tea grown in Sikkim is sold in the international market for a record Rs. 2500 per kg.
Best time to visit: March to May and October to December
Let’s do a tea trip together?