Castleton Tea Estate | |
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Location | Darjeeling district, West Bengal,India |
Coordinates | 26°52′10″N88°16′40″E / 26.869478°N 88.277652°E |
Area | 170 hectares (420 acres) |
Elevation | 980 to 2,300 metres (3,220 to 7,550 ft) |
Owned by | Goodricke Group |
Open | 1885 |
Castleton Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
The garden was planted by Dr. Charles Graham in 1885. The Goodricke Group took over the garden in 1984. [1] [2]
The tea estate was earlier named Kumseri. There was a building named “Bank Ghar’’, which had the look of a castle and from that building, the place became Castleton. [1]
The most renowned of all the gardens of the Goodricke Group is Castleton Tea Estate. The earth, sun, mist and dew bless the mountain slopes to grow the world’s best teas that are in demand around the world. [3]
Castleton Tea Estate, with a planted area of 170 hectares (420 acres), is spread over the mountain slopes of Kurseong and Pankhabari, at an altitude of 980 to 2,300 metres (3,220 to 7,550 ft) above mean sea level. [1]
The names of garden sections are loaded with nostalgic emotions about the place – Bhalu Khop is a bear cave, Jim Basha means an erstwhile manager’s domain, Dhobitar was a washerman’s clothesline and Baseri means a resting place. [3]
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
Quality is the essence of Castleton Tea Estate. It has been awarded the ISO9000/HACCP/ISO 22000 Quality Systems Certification. The quality levels are so high that it has fetched world record prices. [3] [4]
The main products of Castleton Tea Estate are black tea, green tea, white tea, Muscatel, and Moonlight, [5] which are picked from delicate Chinese bushes. The Darjeeling tea produced here has a rose like fragrance and the unique Muscatel flavour. [6]
The Goodricke Group owns five tea estates in Darjeeling: Thurbo, Badamtam, Barnesbeg, Castleton and Margaret's Hope. [7]
Darjeeling tea is a tea made from Camellia sinensis var. sinensis that is grown and processed in Darjeeling district or Kalimpong district in West Bengal, India. Since 2004, the term Darjeeling tea has been a registered geographical indication referring to products produced on certain estates within Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The tea leaves are processed as black tea, though some estates have expanded their product offerings to include leaves suitable for making green, white, and oolong teas.
Kurseong is a town and a municipality in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Kurseong subdivision.
Mirik is a small town and a Notified Area of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Mirik subdivision. The name Mirik comes from the Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire".
Soureni is a village in the Mirik CD block in the Mirik subdivision of the Darjeeling district, in West Bengal, India.
Badamtam Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Darjeeling Pulbazar CD block in the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision of the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India.
Ambootia or Ambootay is a tea estate village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal in India.
Makaibari Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Rohini Tea Garden is a village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Thubro Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Mirik CD block in the Mirik subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Puttabong Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Darjeeling Pulbazar CD block in the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Margaret's Hope Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Monteviot Tea Garden is a village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Rishihat Tea Garden is a village in the Darjeeling Pulbazar CD block in the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Balasun Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Giddapahar is a village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Simulbari Tea Garden is a village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Goomtee Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Meenglas Tea Estate and Leesh River Tea Estate are tea gardens, located near each other in the Mal CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Both the tea estates are located in the western end of the Dooars.
Hope Tea Estate and Jiti Tea Estate are tea gardens, located near each other in the Nagrakata CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Both the tea estates are located in the north-central section of the Dooars.
Danguajhar Tea Estate is a tea garden, located near Jalpaiguri in the Jalpaiguri Sadar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal.