darjeeling tea

For 143 years, the Darjeeling Toy Train has been winding through the hills, offering a one-of-a-kind journey through tea gardens, mountain passes, and history itself. More than just a train ride, it’s an experience —one that lets you slow down, soak in the views, and relive a piece of heritage.

Sparsh Agarwal, a 23-year-old, is saving his family's historic tea garden and has launched Dorje Teas, which sells an entire year's worth of seasonal flavours of Darjeeling tea and is trying to do away with the industry's dependence on export markets.

Given how ubiquitous a cup of chai is across India, and how chai drinking transcends all boundaries, it come as a surprise that not many Indians know about the fascinating history of tea in India. So, on the 12th International Tea Day, appreciate the origins of your favorite cuppa as we reveal the story of how tea become an inevitable part of Indian lives.