Food · Temi Tea Garden
From leaf to cup: Temi factory and tasting
When staff permit, see how plucked leaf becomes orthodox tea at Temi's factory, then taste first flush, autumn flush and other grades at the estate shop. The best way to understand why Temi tea sells at auction in Kolkata.
Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Temi makes orthodox tea: whole leaves withered, rolled, oxidised and dried, rather than the cut-tear-curl CTC tea of most Indian chai. In season, the factory works through the day, and visitors are sometimes shown the withering troughs, rollers and dryers. Visits depend on production and staff availability, so ask at the office.
Even when the floor is closed, the estate shop offers tea to taste and buy. Compare a light, floral first flush with a fuller autumn flush; look at the leaf, smell it dry and wet, and taste without milk. Staff can explain grades such as TGFOP, and the difference between Temi Tea and Sikkim Solja.
Buy here rather than in town: tea is fresher and prices are lower. Expect about ₹150–600 per 100 g depending on grade and flush. Factory photography may be restricted. Wear closed shoes if you go onto the factory floor.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can tourists visit the Temi tea factory?
Sometimes. Visits depend on production schedules, safety and staff availability, and may be stopped at busy times. Ask at the estate office. The tea shop near the factory is the reliable option for tasting and buying. Check current status before you travel.
What is the difference between orthodox and CTC tea?
Orthodox tea keeps whole or broken leaves, rolled and slowly oxidised, giving lighter, more complex flavours, best without milk. CTC (crush, tear, curl) cuts leaves into small granules for strong, quick-brewing tea, usually drunk with milk. Temi makes mainly orthodox tea.
How much does Temi tea cost?
At the estate shop, roughly ₹150–600 per 100 g depending on grade and flush, with premium first flush at the top end. Prices are indicative and vary by year. Buying at the estate is usually cheaper and fresher than in Gangtok shops.
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