Calcutta, March 5: First flush tea from the Namring (Upper) estate in Darjeeling has fetched Rs 11,000 a kg through private sales at a time the district is suffering from a drought-like condition, resulting in a major loss for the crop.

“The tea has been made from an exotic clone, specially manufactured with leaves plucked from the young tea section of the Namring division,” said Sumon Majumder, general manager (marketing and exports) at Darjeeling Impex Limited, part of Poddar HMP Group. 

The tea has got a light yellow colour with a flowery or fruity aroma, he added.

Leading dealer Subodh Brothers has bought this prime first flush Darjeeling tea. 

“The tea is very unusual and the flavour is extraordinary as the flowery after-taste lingers for long. One simply has to taste it to understand it,” said Tapan Dutt, owner of Subodh Brothers, adding that visitors from abroad and non-resident Indians (NRIs) are the ones looking for this variety. “We expect to sell this tea in the next two months,” he said. 

Subodh Brothers has three outlets in Bengal — Salt Lake, College Street and Haldia — and sells 60,000-70,000 kg of Darjeeling tea annually. 

Weather worry

Majumder said this particular variety started growing leaves usually from the first week of February but because of erratic weather conditions this year the start has been delayed.

However, since 75 per cent of the garden is self-irrigated and draws water from several waterfalls from the Tiger Hills, it has been able to maintain the quality buyers look for.

“As a result of dry weather we have had a poor start this year with no rain since October. Hence, we expect 70 per cent lesser first flush crop this year over last. However, a good shower in the next two weeks can put us back on track,” Binod Mohan, chairman of the Darjeeling Tea Association, told The Telegraph.

There are 87 estates in Darjeeling which produced 8.13 million kg in 2016. Last year, the Namring estate produced 2,90,000 kg of which 58,000 kg was first flush and was sold at an average price of Rs 732 a kg. 

The Namring factory is situated at an altitude of 3,000 feet and the highest point of plantation is at 5,500 feet. 

“The tea that we have been able to make was plucked from bushes located at 4,000 feet,” said Majumder.