Darjeeling, a hill station on the Himalaya, is situated at an altitude of 7000 feet. It produced the world’s finest tea which has often been called the ‘champagne of tea’.Darjeeling tea is what it is because of its quality, reputation and characteristics, all of which are essentially attributable to its geographical origin.
Indian Darjeeling tea enjoys a reputation as one of the best teas for flavor and quality. For probably more than 150 years it has been grown and produced in privately owned tea gardens.
The tea is grown at various altitudes up to 6,500 feet although the average is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet.
Darjeeling tea that is worthy of its name cannot be grown or manufactured anywhere else in the world. It cannot be replicating anywhere. It is protected by the Tea Board and the Ministry of Commerce under the norms of the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO.
Darjeeling teas are characterized by the presence of an abundance of fine hairy growth on the underside of the leaf on the bud and sometimes even on the stalk. This pubescence is called ‘tip’ and it is the ‘tippy’ teas that denote quality.
Darjeeling tea – Champagne of tea
