Not long after the discovery of wild tea growing in Assam, the English estab- lished a hill town health resort and sanitorium for military families in 1835. This remote region of western Bengal with its cool, clean mountain air and high ele- vation had been named Dorje-ling (Darjeeling), in honor of the Dorje, a sacred ritual object of holy lamas symbolizing eternal strength, constancy, and a fixed axis point around which all else turns. |
Lying across the valley from the soaring, majestic Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling was considered a transcendent place by the Tibetans. Today monasteries and nature reserves provide visitors with a window to the history surrounding the region, and a place where they can view a breathtaking sunrise over Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak of the Himalayas.Kanchenjunga translates to “Five Treasures of the Snow,” so named for its five massive peaks. It was believed to be the highest mountain in the world, until the title was claimed by Mount Everest in 1849 (which visitors can also glimpse on a clear day). |
In 1835 fewer than 100 people lived in Darjeeling. One of them was Dr. A. Campbell, a chief government official who had been posted to the small mountain town.With tea seeds given him by India’s governor general, Campbell and other civil servants living there planted small experimental government tea gardens. Some of the seeds used by Campbell had been smuggled out of China, while others were from the new- Assam variety of tea plant would grow in Darjeeling, with its high altitude and cool thin air, With the success of the experimental tea Nepal and the northern region of Today the number of Darjeeling tea gardens has dropped to around 75. Many have Despite Darjeeling’s demand and popularity worldwide, its yearly production is only about 1% of India’s total, or around In the higher elevations the tea is planted on steep The smaller yield of leaf means higher labor costs per For the most part they are unable to increase output, but Darjeeling growers are con- More tea estates are producing certified organic teas and It doesn’t increase the leaf output, but provides a better tasting tea overall. Enjoy. |