30 Nov 2015, 03:21 pm
The event was held on Dec 3 from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Darjeeling's tea bushes stretch across a picturesque landscape steeped in religious, sacred and mythical history. Planted at high elevation in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, in an area of northern India bound by Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the east and Sikkim to the north, the rows of brilliant green, waist-high shrubs that coat the steep slopes and valleys around this Victorian 'hill town' produce only a fraction of the world's tea, and less than one per cent of India's total.
Yet the tea from this limited crop, with its characteristic bright, amber-coloured brew and muscatel flavours - delicate and flowery, with hints of apricots and peaches - is generally considered the best on the globe.
This is the story of how Darjeeling developed its prodigious tea industry under Imperial British rule and eventually came to produce some of the highest-quality leaves in the world. It is a fascinating portrait of the region from the days of the Raj to that of the 'voodoo farmers' of the present day, who get world-record prices for their fine teas, all set against the backdrop of the looming Himalayas and drenching monsoons.
It is a story rich in intrigue and empire, full of adventurers and unlikely successes in culture and religion, ecology and terroir, and one that began with one of the most audacious acts of corporate smuggling in history. It is also the tale of how the industry had spiralled into decline by the end of the twentieth century, and how this paradisiacal spot in the high Himalayas seethes with union unrest and a violent struggle for independent statehood.
It is on the front line against the devastating effects of climate change and decades of harmful farming practices, a war that is being fought in some tea gardens - and, astonishingly, won - using radical methods.
- Crafted in India, Framed in the West
- Bengal's Chingri Malai Curry Outshines Global Rivals, Ranks Among World’s Finest Shrimp Dishes
- From Mumbai to Global Recognition: Ashok Vada Pav Ranks 25th in TasteAtlas' Iconic Sandwiches List
- Digha — A Place Where Waves Speak to the Heart
- Dosa Outshines Global Pancakes! Indian Classic Makes TasteAtlas 2026 Best List
- Step Inside Changi: The Airport That Keeps Winning the World Over
- Butter Biryani? Chef’s Viral Recipe Wins Over Foodies
- Pahari Maggi: How a Swiss Noodle Conquered Every Indian Hill
- From Palaces to Plates: Taj City Centre Launches 'Flavours of Rajasthan' in Kolkata
- Chef Vikas Khanna Earns TIME 100 Honour, a Milestone for India's Culinary Legacy
Tata Group-owned carrier Air India has announced the introduction of its new ‘Basic’ fare family, further strengthening its commitment to empowering customers with greater choice and control over how they travel and what they pay for.
Air India has opened bookings for its first 'Easy Connect' flights under the Government of India's new hub-and-spoke model, allowing international travellers from smaller Indian cities to complete baggage drop and immigration formalities at their departure airport before connecting to overseas destinations through major hubs.
Air India and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as they look to strengthen links between their networks and offer travellers more convenient connections between India, Saudi Arabia and destinations beyond.
