Mirik Tea Garden near Darjeeling Darjeeling tea is one of the world's finest
black teas. The known history of Darjeeling tea dates back
to about 150 years when a british civil surgeon, Dr. Campbell
first planted the seeds in his garden on an experimental basis.
The first commercial production of tea started
by British planters in 1852. Takvar near Darjeeling was one
of the first tea gardens set up around this time.
Darjeeling then was a small town used by
British and the affluent Jamindars as a summer respite. The
manufacturing of Tea is a labour intensive process. The requirement
of the gardens drew people from across the border of Nepal
to come and settle down in Darjeeling. Till today people from
Nepalese origin constitute the largest section of the locals
in Darjeeling.
View of a tea garden in the Darjeeling hills At present there are close to 100 tea gardens
producing the famous 'Darjeeling tea'. In the foothills a
large number of gardens produce the 'Dooars tea' and the 'Terai
tea'. But the taste and aroma of the Darjeeling variety remains
unmatched throughout the world.
The total area under cultivation of 'Darjeeling
Tea' is about 19,000 hectares and annual production reaches
10 million kgs. The industry employs more than 50 thousand
people directly. A large number of others are engaged in plucking
the tea during the season.
Tea and tourism are the main two industries
of the region both are labour intensive sectors providing
employment to a large section of the people. The turnover
of the Darjeeling tea industry is estimated to about USD 7.5
million, larger than the earning from tourism industry. |
