Avongrove Tea Estate

Avongrove Tea Estate
Avongrove Tea Estate
	Avongrove Tea Estate: Tea bushes maintain the contours of the hills
Location	Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India
Coordinates	26°56′20″N 88°12′39″E / 26.9388°N 88.2108°E
Area	200 ha (490 acres)
Elevation	670 to 1,700 m (2,200 to 5,580 ft)
Open	1889
Website	www.avongrovetea.com

Avongrove Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Mirik CD block in the Mirik subdivision of the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India.

Geography

8km
5miles

N

E

P

A

L

Mariabong TG

R

River

Mechi

Balason River

Thurbo TE

TE

Pussimbing TE

TE

Phuguri TE

T

Okayti TE

TE

Gopaldhara TE

TE

Avongrove TE

TE

Soureni

R

Singbulli TG

R

Panighatta

R

Nagri Farm TG

R

Tumsong TG

R

Sungma TG

R

Poobong TG

R

Pokhriabong

R

Jorebungalow

R

Dhajea TG

R

Chamong TG

R

Mirik

M

Sukhiapokhri

CT

Sonada

CT

Mangarjung TG

CT

Rongmook Ceder TG

CT

Places and tea estates in the southern portion of Darjeeling Sadar subdivision (including Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri CD block), and Mirik Subdivision in Darjeeling district
CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate
Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Avongrove Tea Estate, located in the Rangbhang Valley,^[1] sits on the banks of the Balason River at 670 m (2,200 ft) feet above sea level. This high-elevation estate goes up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft). Approximately 200 ha (490 acres) of land is growing tea, and there are 500 workers who live on the estate to maintain optimal plucking rounds. Avongrove means "Nest of Birds".^[1]

Avongrove is certified as an organic tea estate under USA (USA), JAS (Japan), NOP and NPOP (India and the EU).^[2]

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.

Production

The factory was built in 1889 and produces 60,000 to 70,000 kg (130,000 to 150,000 lb) of tea a year. The estate has a perennial source of water and almost the entire area under tea can be irrigated.

Economy

Approximately 60% of the area under tea has chinary and chinary clonal bushes. Of the 40% that remains, about 20% are hybrid bushes and a very small percentage are pure Assam tea.

Avongrove offers a range of specialty Darjeeling tea, such as the peony rosette and florette, the latter of which expands when allowed to gently brew in a tall container, revealing a flower when the hot water makes the outer leaves unfurl. One woman, working an entire day, can make only six of them.^[3]