Darjeeling, Nov. 7: A tea garden in Darjeeling has decided to name a limited edition tea after its oldest surviving employee - 98-year-old Purney Subba.

Margaret's Hope, one of the five Goodricke Group tea gardens in Darjeeling, has decided that when the estate marks its 150 years on November 20, it would release the limited edition tea in Purney Subba's name.

'This is our way of paying tribute to workers of our garden who have spent their entire life to make tea from Darjeeling world famous,' said Jeevan Pande, the manager of Margaret's Hope.

'Purney Subba is the oldest surviving worker in the garden. He is 98 years old and served in the garden for 40 years. One of his sons, Devraj Subba, is the head chowkidar (guard) at Margaret's Hope,' Pande said.

Subba, who used to pick leaves, retired in 1974, ten years before the Goodricke Group took over the garden.

Darjeeling Tea is tagged FTGFOP which stands for Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. To this, PS would be added - the initials of Purney Subba.

Subba nowadays stays in the garden quarters with his son.

The family has been told that Subba would be honoured by the garden management on November 2 but the official who went to take his photograph did not tell him that a tea would be named after him. It's a surprise, a garden official said.

'I had sent my assistant manager to take a photograph of Purney Subba and I was told that the family was very happy that he would be honoured and felicitated. I think they have not yet been able to fathom the magnitude of the honour,' Pande said.

Asked if this was first time that a tea was being named after a garden hand, Pande said: 'I do not remember an incident when a tea was named after a garden worker.'

Margaret's Hope was established in 1864 and it was earlier called Bara-Ringtong Tea Garden.

'The garden was owned by an English gentleman, Mr Bagdon. His wife and two daughters had come to visit Darjeeling. The youngest daughter Margaret was in love with the property because of its scenic beauty. She had promised to visit the garden again before she left for England but unfortunately, she fell sick and died during her journey home. Mr Bagdon renamed the garden as Margaret's Hope in memory of his daughter,' said Pande.

The garden was renamed sometime in the 1890s.

The Goodricke Group took over the estate in 1984.

The estate, 25km from Darjeeling town, is spread over 586 hectares.

For the 150th year celebration, 'we will distribute souvenirs to all workers. Purney Subba tea will be launched that day. A.N. Singh, the managing director of Goodricke Group, will announce a number of welfare schemes,' Pande said.

Senior officials of Camellia PLC, the parent company of Goodricke Group, based in the UK, would attend the programme.

'A group of dedicated buyers from across the world will also be present,' said Pande.

Margaret's Hope tea is also sold at Harrod's outlets.

Pande said workers of the garden are encouraged to send their children to school.

'We also give Peter Lagget Memorial Scholarship to five top students every year. The scholarship is named after the former chairman of Goodricke Group,' he said. The estate also awards 50 workers based on their performance every year.

The Goodricke Group also owns Thurbo, Badamtam, Banersberg and Caselton in the hills.