Heritage tea estates of Darjeeling can be a big draw for global travellers say experts at a meet in Kolkata

The company owns and runs two luxury resorts at their tea estates in the Darjeeling hills, Chamong Chiabari and Tumsong Chiabari, both easily reached from Siliguri.

Supported by Chamong Chiabari Resorts, the festival was organised recently in the city by BAUL in association with Ministry of External Affairs and ICCR Kolkata.

Heads of several consular offices in Kolkata -- France, Germany, Japan, Thailand, Nepal and Myanmar -- were present at the festival which included a seminar, painting and musical sessions, photography exhibitions and a tea tasting session.

"Darjeeling is known for its Himalayan beauty and tea," said Samrat Chowdhury of Baul. "And we can promote heritage tourism in the area in collaboration with the tea estates."

"Even since the first tea garden was set up by the British in the Darjeeling hills, tea became synonymous with the economy, lifestyle, and culture of the region. It is now time to explore the legacy of tea and tea-related culture as a sustainable support for economic well-being of the people of the region," he said.

The company owns and runs two luxury resorts at their tea estates in the Darjeeling hills, Chamong Chiabari and Tumsong Chiabari, both easily reached from Siliguri.

Speakers at the seminar highlighted on various aspects of the tea garden estates that can be utilised to promote tourism in the area.

PK Bhattacharjee, Secretary General, Tea Association of India, pointed out that the tea estates in the region have nurtured a culture of clubs and sporting activities, including golf courses, which can now be used to attract global travellers.

Photographer Shubhendu Banerjee, through an illustrative talk, showed how the wildlife, including a large number of bird species, found in the tea estates, can be another key attraction for promoting tourism in the area.

Kajari Biswas, IFS, Ministry of External Affairs, Kolkata highlighted how promotion of tea tourism can be key to drawing more global travellers to the region.

Gautam Dey, Director, ICCR; JP Shaw, Regional Director, India Tourism (Kolkata) and Arijit Raha, Secretary General, Indian Tea Association also addressed the gathering.

But the most interesting session of the festival was the tea tasting conducted by Ajay Kichlu, Director, Chamong Tea Exports (P) Ltd.

A veteran tea taster, he explained how the tea from the same garden varies from one season to the next, owing to various factors.

Watching Kichlu demonstrate the task of tea tasting, it seemed fairly easy. Sip the brew with one noisy slurp, roll it on your tongue, and spit out.

But reality dawned on us as we tried to emulate Kichlu. Not one of us could slurp it right, forget about understanding the flavour, the notes, etc.

It was many decades of experience that made Kichlu an expert at his task, we realised.

It is on the tea tasters that the marketing of tea depends.. It is their opinion that decides whether a tea will be priced at 10 dollar or 110 dollars.

Reporting by Uttara Gangopadhyay.