On my recent visit to Darjeeling, following the Indian Tea Forum, Dharlene Marie Fahl and I were taken by Rishi Saria on a delightful tea garden visit to the Rohini and Gopaldhara estates. Gopaldhara teas are grown at more than 6ooo feet above sea level in a place where others said it was foolish to try to propagate tea bushes commercially. In fact, it is one of the highest tea plantations in Darjeeling.
We happened to stop for a rest at a scenic spot. Pictured is the Tingling tea estate, part of the Singbulli estate, as viewed from the Phuguri overlook.
Photos copyrighted by Dan Robertson – used with permission
How does this height compare to where the Chinese grow their high elevation teas? Thanks for sharing your fabulous pictures Dan.
Hi Michelle:
China does have tea gardens in that altitude. There is even one in Tibet at around 9000 ft. Haven’t been there…yet.
What are the seasonal temp fluctuations like Dan? Are the plants exposed to frost at any point in the calendar year? Is this the assamica or the sinensis varietal?
frost damages tea very badly – last winters frost damaged teas in hangzhou extensively – so it is not the altitude but the frost zones which determine natural habitat for tea