Snapshot

Why Darjeeling is iconic:
Darjeeling, nestled in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal, produces the world-famous Darjeeling Tea, often called the “Champagne of Teas” for its unique muscatel flavor, aroma, and heritage cultivation. Awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2004 (India’s first GI-tagged product), Darjeeling tea is exclusively handpicked and manufactured in 87 Tea Board-registered gardens at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,000 meters.

Industrial edge:

• Strictly GI-certified: Only tea grown in Darjeeling’s 87 estates and processed in authorized factories can bear the Darjeeling name.
  
• Cultivation is organic-leaning, with many gardens certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, USDA Organic, and EU Organic standards.
  
• Global reputation as a luxury specialty tea exported to over 45 countries.
  
• Protected by Tea Board of India with traceability protocols, ensuring authenticity.
  

Scale:

• Annual production: ~8–10 million kg (small but premium-focused).
  
• Accounts for a significant portion of India’s $800M tea export industry, with Darjeeling commanding premium auction prices.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Orthodox Whole Leaf Tea	First flush, second flush, autumn flush teas
Green Tea	Hand-rolled and minimally processed varieties
White Tea	Silver needle, rare white teas from select estates
Oolong Tea	Semi-oxidized, floral and muscatel flavors
Organic & Fairtrade Blends	EU/USDA-certified teas for global markets
Luxury Tea Gifts & Packs	Premium tea collections, single-estate samplers

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
India’s First GI-Tagged Product	GI tag ensures Darjeeling’s global branding and authenticity
High-Altitude Cultivation	Unique terroir creates the “muscatel” flavor
Certified Organic Focus	~60% of estates certified Organic and Fairtrade
Heritage Tea Estates	Some gardens date back to British colonial times (1850s)
Global Export Leadership	Major buyers: Japan, EU, USA, UK, Middle East
Strong Regulatory Support	Tea Board of India oversees GI and quality protocols

Materials & Sustainability

Key Inputs: Darjeeling tea is entirely hand-harvested with minimal mechanization, using:

• High-altitude Camellia sinensis var. sinensis cultivars.
  
• Organic fertilizers and natural pest management practices.
  
• Hand plucking (2 leaves and a bud) for premium quality.
  

Sustainability Edge:

• Rainforest Alliance and Organic certifications.
  
• Fairtrade initiatives supporting tea garden workers.
  
• Sustainable water use and soil preservation practices.
  
• Zero chemical pesticide mandates in certified gardens.
  

Cluster Infrastructure

• Tea Gardens & Factories:
  
  • 87 registered tea gardens authorized by Tea Board of India.
    
  • Modern orthodox processing units for hand-rolled teas.
    
• Institutions:
  
  • Tea Board of India GI Verification Lab.
    
  • Darjeeling Tea Research & Development Centre (Kurseong).
    
  • Kolkata Tea Auction Centre for global buyers.
    
• Connectivity:
  
  • Siliguri and Bagdogra Airport (~70 km) for air cargo.
    
  • Kolkata Port (~600 km) for containerized tea exports.
    
  • Himalayan railway and NH-55 for local transport.
    

Compliance & Certifications

• GI Certification (Darjeeling Tea).
  
• Tea Board of India certification for authenticity.
  
• Organic certification: USDA, EU Organic, JAS.
  
• Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certifications.
  
• ISO 22000 and HACCP for tea processing units.
  

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Sampling Lead Time	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
First Flush (Spring)	1–2 weeks	Seasonal (Mar–Apr)	50–100 kg
Second Flush (Summer)	1–2 weeks	Seasonal (May–Jun)	50–100 kg
Autumn Flush	1 week	Seasonal (Oct–Nov)	50–100 kg
White & Specialty Teas	2 weeks	4–6 weeks	10–50 kg
Branded Gift Packs	2 weeks	4–6 weeks	500+ packs

Branding & Packaging

• Branding: GI logo on all authentic Darjeeling tea packs; unique estate branding (e.g., Castleton, Margaret’s Hope, Makaibari).
  
• Packaging:
  
  • Foil-lined paper packs, nitrogen flushing for freshness.
    
  • Wooden tea chests for high-end export consignments.
    
  • QR-coded traceability and anti-counterfeit seals.
    

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Tea tasting and grading by Tea Board experts.
  
• GI verification through serialization and garden registration.
  
• Residue analysis for pesticide-free certification.
  
• Export QC with SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek.
  
• Climate-controlled warehousing to preserve flavor profiles.
  

Price Drivers

• Seasonality of flushes: First Flush commands premium auction prices.
  
• Organic and Fairtrade certification premiums.
  
• Transportation and logistics (mountain region).
  
• Limited production volumes (premium scarcity pricing).
  
• Branding (estate vs. blended teas).
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• Darjeeling Tea is India’s first GI-protected product and recognized as a luxury tea worldwide.
  
• Backed by Tea Board of India for authentication and traceability.
  
• Preferred by global specialty tea buyers and auction houses.
  
• Organic and sustainable certifications meet EU, US, and Japanese standards.
  
• Limited annual production ensures exclusivity, heritage value, and premium pricing.