Black Teas Related To Darjeeling Tea – Other Himalayan Tea Expanding Areas

Darjeeling tea, which ordinarily refers to black tea generated in the Darjeeling district of northeast India, is 1 of the most perfectly-recognized and very-regarded kinds of tea in the world. Even so, the Darjeeling district alone is fairly tiny, and there is a much greater band of regions at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain selection with a equivalent local weather. Many of these regions also produce tea, and the tea is in numerous respects identical to Darjeeling black tea.

This post explores some of the black teas manufactured in other Himalayan regions outside of the Darjeeling district. These areas consist of other districts and states of India, these kinds of as Sikkim and Jalpaiguri, as properly as nearby locations in other international locations, together with Nepal and Bangladesh.

Other areas of India:

Right after Darjeeling, the subsequent-best recognized tea increasing region of India is Assam. Whilst Assam is geographically incredibly close to Darjeeling, it is found at a decreased altitude and has a markedly hotter weather with increased humidity but decreased rainfall. These conditions, paired with the point that the tea developed in Assam is made from a distinct, big-leaf cultivar of the tea plant, results in tea with a vastly distinct character from Darjeeling tea.

The other higher-altitude locations close by, however, make teas quite similar to Darjeeling. Sikkim is the best-recognised of these areas, while it is most likely however very esoteric to any person other than tea fanatics. Jalpaiguri, the district right east of Darjeeling, is maybe even extra esoteric.

Neighboring areas of other nations:

The teas most identical to Darjeeling tea that are grown out of India are these grown in Nepal. Darjeeling truly shares a considerable border with Nepal, and the regions in which tea is developed in Nepal not only have in essence the very same weather as in Darjeeling, but the traditions and culture of tea cultivation there are also quite intently relevant. Despite the fact that they are similar to Darjeeling teas, and are classified by the identical method of flushes (1st flush, 2nd flush, autumnal flush, etcetera.) Nepalese black teas definitely have their very own distinct character to them and can be recognized as such to the trained palate.

Bangladesh is also rather near the Darjeeling district, and there are regions. Teas from Bangladesh, on the other hand, are not as extensively available on the Western industry, and quite a few of them are also marginally a lot less shut in character and high-quality to these created in Darjeeling. Nonetheless, this region does warrant point out.

In summary:

Black teas developed in Darjeeling, India are among the most very well-known of significant-excellent, loose-leaf black teas. Nevertheless, there are other close by areas, which includes Sikkim and Jalpaiguri in India, and exterior of India, neighboring regions in Nepal, which develop identical teas. These teas have Darjeeling-like traits, but also have their have exceptional properties and present an exciting improve of tempo for curious enthusiasts of unfastened-leaf black tea.