As winters usher in, tea breaks get frequent and the yearning to have this hot drink multiplies. Even when you are tired, a cup of tea can work miracles. But do you know the roots of tea? Are you aware how this drink silently walked into our kitchens to become an inseparable part of our lives. The tea trails take us back to tribal lanes from where the tea travelled to reach our tea tables.
It is tough to believe, but is true that tea once used to be a tribal drink! Let’s read about tea sojourn which starts from tea gardens…
Tea tours! Doesn’t it sound interesting! It immediately brings to fore the lush green beauty, a hilly terrain, the scenic locations spread around, diligent women tying colourful scarves neatly to their heads and the appealing process of tea plucking. Now, let’s read about the best locations of tea tours:
Darjeeling:
The misty hills of Darjeeling are delight to see! Surrounded by tea plantations producing 25% of India’s total tea output, this tea town remains endowed with a breathtaking charm. The light-colored, floral smelling tea produced here has won many hearts and hence the tea gardens stand with pride, inviting tourists from across the globe.
Best time to visit: March to November, but avoid monsoon
Find on map : https://goo.gl/maps/BjVWgQ6hUz22
Assam:
This state makes the largest tea producing region of India. Assamese tea is bright-coloured, mostly grown in Brahmaputra Valley. Visit Jorhat, the ‘Tea Capital of the World’, situated in central part of valley.
Best time: May to June
Find on map: https://goo.gl/maps/7mSm3GavSjs
Munnar:
A beautiful hill station, Munnar accommodates vast spread lush green tea plantations. Don’t skip a visit at Kolukkumalai Estate Tea Factory—one of the highest tea estates in the world. Also visit India’s first Tea Museum at Nallathanni Estate to know about the history of tea production.
These tea tours share its sojourn which started from Singpho tribe, grew tea and used it as a herbal drink. Later, British East India Company started growing tea for commercial purposes and hence it reached our tea tables.
Find on map: https://goo.gl/maps/bvVQ8G7Sq1m
About the Author
Archana has been a freelance writer for in-flight magazines such as Vistara, Go-Getter and Rail Bandhu. She has also written for Trans India Holidays (TIH), a national award winner company.
She worked as an editor in a leading travel media house for seven years. Archana has also worked with esteemed groups such as Free Press and Network 18.
