Tea · Makaibari
Inside the Makaibari tea factory
Follow the leaf through the factory that first ran in 1859: withering troughs, rolling machines, oxidation, drying and sorting. Best in the morning of a plucking day between March and November.
A Darjeeling tea factory works in a simple order. Leaf arrives from the gardens in the morning and is spread in long troughs to wither, losing water for 12–16 hours. Rollers then twist it to break the cells, the leaf oxidises on the floor until the tea maker judges the colour and smell are right, and dryers stop the process. Finally the tea is sorted by grade.
Makaibari's factory was commissioned in 1859, which puts it among the first in the district. Visits depend on the season and the day's work: in the dormant months, roughly December to February, there may be nothing to see. Ask the estate office or your homestay host a day ahead.
Do not touch the leaf or the machines, and follow the guide's directions around the rollers and dryers. Photography rules vary inside; ask first.
Cost: Fee varies · ask at the estate
Questions people ask
Good to know
Can I visit the Makaibari factory?
Usually yes in the plucking season, March to November, but it depends on the day's work and the estate's current visitor policy. Ask at the estate office or through your homestay a day ahead. Morning visits are best because fresh leaf is coming in and the withering and rolling are under way.
When was the Makaibari factory built?
The estate's tea factory was commissioned in 1859, a few years after Captain Samler cleared the land and sold it to Girish Chandra Banerjee. That makes it one of the first tea factories in Darjeeling district. The machinery and buildings have of course been renewed many times since.
Is there a fee for the factory tour?
Fees and tasting charges change, and some visits are arranged free for homestay guests. Ask what is included before you start. Budget roughly ₹200–500 for a tasting of several teas, and more if you buy special lots.
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