Exploring India's Ten Tea Regions!

Tea in India did not start with the British. However, they industrialized the tea production in India by starting tea plantations in Assam in the mid-1850s. The original heritage of tea in India dates back much longer, to the mid-1200s, some historians say.

Today, India has ten distinct tea-growing regions. Each one has its own character. The country produces mostly black tea, and about 60% of the exports are CTC teas (crushed-teared-curled). Here, the focus is on consistency and large volumes rather than high quality. But the specialty segment is growing fast, especially in the smaller Himalayan regions.

A very high-quality, special reserve white tea from Arunachal Pradesh. Harvested spring 2026. Available at TeaGardenia. Arunachal literally means Dawn-Lit Mountain Province.

The Ten Tea Regions of India are:

• Mostly specialty tea regions: Darjeeling, Sikkim, Kangra, Arunachal Pradesh

• Mixed regions: Assam, Nilgiri Hills, Himachal Pradesh

• CTC-dominant regions: Dooars, Terai, Tripura

Tasting First Flush speciality teas at Yanki Tea, end of March 2026. Find more info here in this post about their wonderful teas, and contact me if you want to purchase. Supply is limited!

Among the most famous Indian tea regions is Darjeeling, located in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal. Darjeeling has around 87 gardens and produces some of the world's finest teas. The style is almost entirely orthodox (meaning harvested by hand and produced with lots of care in smaller batches). The flavours are delicate, floral, and famous for the muscatel note in the second flush harvest in late spring. The first flush, harvested in early spring, is light and fresh. The second flush, in late spring to early summer, brings more strength, body, and complexity.

Alan at the family run Yanki Tea Factory in Mirik Valley, Darjeeling. The wood carved woman in the background is made by his father.

Darjeeling tea was the first Indian product to receive the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2004. And the region was very early on transitioning to 100% organic tea certification.  

The GI tag ensures that only tea grown in the 87 designated gardens in Darjeeling can carry the official logo. The GI tag protects the authenticity and unique "muscatel" flavor of the tea, which is influenced by the region's climate and soil.

Darjeeling is home to many interesting, high quality tea gardens. One of the younger ones is Yanki Tea Estate in Mirik Valley. A family-run tea factory that has been producing fine speciality teas since 2015. Explore Yanki here in an earlier Instagram post of mine. 

Autumn Flush, elegant black tea from the beautiful Temi Estate.

Just next door, but a far smaller region, is Sikkim, a former independent Himalayan kingdom. The entire region has two single major estates: the well-known Temi Tea Estate, and the other, less well-known Estate: Bermoik Tea Estate. Bermiok is a small, ca 12-acre, 100% organic family-owned tea garden. Temi Tea, located in the South Sikkim district was founded in 1969 by the last King of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal. The garden was established to employ Tibetan refugees fleeing to the region. Sikkim teas share some similarities with Darjeeling—bright, aromatic, and refined—but often with a slightly fruitier note. Production is fully organic and almost entirely focused on high-quality orthodox styles. The best teas appear in spring and early summer, and because of its tiny scale, Sikkim remains one of India’s most exclusive tea origins.

White Snow Dragon tea from Himachal Pradesh, the land of snow. Find tout more about this and other teas at TeaGardenia.

Moving west into Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Valley offers another high-altitude tea area. Once a major tea region, Kangra today is smaller and more niche tea oriented, with roughly a hundred gardens. The teas are typically light, floral, and gently nutty, produced mostly orthodox. Spring harvests yield the finest quality. Beyond Kangra, a few micro-regions in Himachal—such as Wah Tea Estate (read their lovely story here) and Palampur Cooperative Estate, are continuing to focus on small-scale, high-quality production, reinforcing the area’s identity as a specialty-driven region.

Speciality black tea, second flush, produced by small tea farmers in Darjeeling.

Further east, in the still-developing landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, tea takes on a more experimental edge. With fewer than ten gardens—including estates like Donyi Polo Tea (meaning "Sun-Moon") this frontier region produces small quantities of distinctive teas. These can be complex, sometimes made from wild or semi-wild plants, and are almost entirely specialty-focused. Spring and early summer harvests tend to be the most expressive, and the region is increasingly seen as one of India’s most promising for artisanal tea.

A golden tip black tea from the iconic Assam garden Mangalam. Here you'll find more about this wonderful tea!

In contrast stands Assam, the powerhouse of Indian tea. With more than 2,500 gardens, it produces over half the country’s total output. Assam is known for bold, malty, full-bodied black teas, much of it manufactured using the CTC method for strong, consistent blends. That said, there is a significant and growing niche of high-quality orthodox Assam, particularly during the prized second flush in May and June. While the region is dominated by volume production, its best teas can rival the complexity of more famous origins.

Tasting tea with an exceptional view. At the one and only Teastudio in the Nilgiri Hills!

India’s Nilgiri region in the southwest offers a different kind of balance. Spread across more than a hundred gardens in the Blue Mountains, the Nilgiri Hills produce tea year-round thanks to their stable climate. The teas are fragrant, smooth, and often carry a subtle citrus brightness. Both CTC and orthodox styles are common here, making it one of India’s most versatile regions. Its standout season is winter, when the well-known “frost teas” develop extra aromatic intensity and clarity. One very fine and interesting tea producer in the Nilgiri Hills is Teastudio.info. A small batch supplier of speciality teas, an all-woman-run company!

Indian tea regions, slightly differently divided than in my blog.

In the plains of West Bengal, the Dooars and Terai regions tell the story of large-scale and consistent qualities. Dooars, with around 178 gardens, produces brisk, smooth teas primarily for blending, with emphasis on CTC manufacturing. The neighboring Terai, with roughly 45 gardens, follows a similar model, though its teas can be slightly lighter while still retaining strength and brightness. In both regions, production peaks during the warmer months, and the focus remains firmly on reliable, high-volume output rather than specialty craftsmanship.

15 different teas from Donyi Polo in Arunachal Pradesh.

In the northeast, Tripura is an emerging, however largely CTC-driven region. With around fifty gardens, it produces strong, Assam-like teas suited for everyday consumption. While small amounts of orthodox tea are being developed, the bulk of production remains geared toward quantity. The main harvest season runs through the summer months, when the climate supports rapid growth.

One great place to stay when you visit the Kurseong area of Darjeeling is La Das Treetops Hotel! Its only a five minutes walk to the Darjeeling Tea Deck where you can learn how to produce tea!

These ten regions reveal a colourful pattern. India’s tea identity is not singular but split between two worlds: one of mass production and one of fine craftsmanship. The regions Assam, Dooars, Terai, and Tripura anchor the country’s role as a global supplier of strong, consistent CTC teas. Meanwhile, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Kangra, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Himachal and Nilgiri Hills define their growing reputation for specialty tea.

Newly picked leaves, plucked early spring 2026.

For anyone exploring Indian tea, the real insight comes from actually visiting tea gardens, experiencing the local terroir and tasting their teas. If you want to explore and expand your palate and taste teas from all ten regions, here is a great place to start: www.teagardenia.com. And by the way, right now they have a generous offer! Check it out!

Tasting tea is always interesting, fun and a journey through all our senses!

Welcome to contact me for a specialty tea tasting, or getting help with creating an afternoon tea menu or a private label. Or come visit me and chat over a cuppa at Långbro Gårdshandel, in Mölnbo! Looking forward to hearing from you.