Nestled nearly 7,000 feet high in the foothills of the Himalayas, the district of Darjeeling is India's most iconic tea-growing region. Its delicate and floral tea is a result of the region's terroir: a unique mix of rich soil, lush landscape, microclimate, and high altitude.
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When we first visited the tea growing regions at the base of the Himalayas, we learned about the multitude of challenges facing tea growers in the 21st century: landslides, soil erosion (the wearing away of the most nutrient-rich topsoil) and shifting weather patterns, to name a few. Behind the beautiful scenery, there is a threat of degradation.
Darjeeling, the region that is most iconic for tea in India, centers around a small town perched on the side of a mountain at nearly 7,000 feet in altitude, and produces teas that capture the terroir of the region and are prized as the ‘Champagne of tea.’
