Tea country

Darjeeling tea is a protected name: only tea grown on the registered gardens of the Darjeeling hills may carry it, and it was India's first product to receive a Geographical Indication tag, in 2004. Most gardens sit on steep slopes between Kurseong, Mirik, Darjeeling and the Rangeet valley.

You do not need a planter's bungalow to see it. Many garden workers' families run homestays at a fraction of the price, and most factories let visitors in during the plucking season from March to November. Factory visits depend on the day's work: check current status before you travel.