The Tea Estate

About Avongrove: The tea estate Avongrove Tea Estate: Avongrove tea estate overlooks the Balasun River meandering along its course below.

In Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas, spread across two hillsides thickly populated with tea bushes on the crests and thick forest in the valleys, the beautiful Avongrove tea estate overlooks the Balasun River meandering along its course below.

At Avongrove, we manufacture tea the traditional way, nurturing every leaf from the time it is carefully hand-picked to when it is packed with pride as the finest Darjeeling.

At Avongrove Tea Estate, we manufacture tea the traditional way, nurturing every leaf from the time it is carefully hand-picked to when it is packed with pride as the finest Darjeeling.

Teams of fifteen pluck different sections of the estate, taking care to ensure that the leaves are just the right size for the finest quality, handling plucked bundles gently so they don’t get crushed or ruptured. The processing factory is masterfully and constantly monitored by our veteran manager, continuously tasting and making adjustments so a rich and lasting flavour is drawn. The various processes of withering or removing moisture, gentle rolling, oxidizing and finally firing of the leaf must be perfectly tuned as the optimum ratio differs from season to season and even day to day. During the first flush period in early February and March, the leaf offers a crisp, light brew; during the second, the finest Avongrove cup is a gentle gold in colour, smooth and flavourful.

Besides our traditional Darjeeling leaf tea, we’re proud of our hand-woven Florette- a beautiful flowering tea; and our naturally fragranced teas that lend an additional soothing aroma to the inherent Darjeeling.

Five hundred workers live on the estate with their families, in small houses decorated with orange trees and flowers. As our manager walks by, the old hands smile and their children zip past him on improvised skateboards. Life is simple, nobody disturbs the hills and we always welcome our frequent bird visitors drawn to Avongrove as an organic estate, free from chemicals. For our other visitors, also always welcome; sipping a cup of tea, relaxed on the hilltop, enjoying a misty, magical dusk is indeed satisfying.

At Avongrove, there is a quiet passion. We’re confident that you will enjoy our lovingly crafted tea, savour the rich muscatel flavour and the soft aroma.