Placed on the eastern ridges of the Himalayas, Darjeeling is a beautiful city that is widely known for its scenic natural beauty and rich culture. However, the city is also popular for being home to alluring tea gardens due to which it has been recognized as the tea capital of India. You can also book your tours with a Darjeeling tour operator who will help to explore the vastly spread tea gardens along with the verdant beauty of nature.
There are numerous options for transportation that can be used to travel in this beautiful city. However, contacting tour operators can help you explore the beauty of the city while acknowledging its rich historical significance. In this blog, we will get onto some of the fascinating facts regarding Darjeeling tea along with discussing the majestic beauty of the city.
Overview of Darjeeling Tea
Once used to be a prominent part of the colonial era, Britishers used Darjeeling as a summer retreat due to its pleasant atmosphere and scenic natural beauty. Over the years many tea gardens were established in the city to increase the rate of tea production which was later imported to different parts of the world. To date, tea is widely admired around the world and has a high impact on the total revenue of the city. Due to its unique taste and world admiration, Darjeeling Tea was granted the GI (Geographical Index) tag and is the first of its kind in the country.
The tea is one of the major parts of Darjeeling and the people proudly share insights about it. It is also a major part of tradition mostly served to the guests as a part of greetings. These tea gardens are spread over a vast area of land that also contributes to elevating the landscape view of the city.
Explore Tea Gardens
The city is home to numerous tea gardens that are considered among the highest producer of tea leaves in India accounting for more than 9.5 million kg annually. Being located in the Himalayan region, the fertile soil and pleasant climate allow the city to produce some of the best flavour tea in the world.
Apart from teas, these gardens are also popular among visitors for offering trekking activities and breathtaking landscapes that are sure to amaze you. You may also consider contacting with local tour operator in Darjeeling who can guide you through these gardens while acknowledging you with its fascinating facts and stories. Puttabong, Happy Valley, Glenburn and Makaibari are considered to be some of the major tea gardens known for producing the finest quality tea leaves.
Taste of Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling Tea is popular for its muscatel flavour, fruity aroma and unique tea-making techniques that set it apart from the others. Unlike other tea leaves which are cooked in boiling water, Darjeeling Tea is soaked in warm water which gives its iconic golden colour and rich flavour that are widely admired by the people.
Right from the plucking of the tea leaves to the distribution process, these go through various processes where each step is performed with attention to detail. Rolling and fermenting are the key steps of tea production that give it iconic colours and rich flavours. While most of the time Darjeeling tea is consumed with boiling water, some prefer milk with both offering a unique taste and flavour.
Tourism in Darjeeling
Apart from tea gardens, the city of Darjeeling is also a popular tourist destination that boasts its beauty with rich culture, scenic views and heritage sites. The city is home to the only steam engine toy train called as Darjeeling Himalayan Railway that has been recognized in the list of world heritage sites by UNESCO in the year 1999. Surrounded by numerous temples, monasteries and attraction sites, the city of Darjeeling is one of the best places to visit in Northeast India.
Best Time to Visit
If you have been planning to visit Darjeeling, then making a proper plan is necessary. The harvesting season of Darjeeling Tea starts from March to the end of October making it the best time to visit the city. However, each of the seasons offers a unique taste and flavour. The tea leaves harvested in the spring season mostly taste like green tea, while during the summer they taste like wine with a muscatel flavour and offer fruity flavours in the winter.
Whether you want to witness the scenic beauty of the city or want to know the rich history of Darjeeling Tea. Travelling with a Darjeeling tour operator can offer you proper guidance and a personalized tour allowing you to make the most out of your trip. From savouring the rich flavours of golden Darjeeling tea while admiring the charm of the Himalayas, this place is one of the destinations to visit.