Temi Tea Garden
Sikkim Tea Temi Tea | |
---|---|
Type | Temi Tea Sikkim Soja Sikkim Kanchendzonga Tea Mystique |
Origin | Namchi, India |
Quick description | Rich aroma and taste |
The Temi Tea Garden (27°14′12″N 88°25′20″E / 27.2367°N 88.4222°E) in Temi, established in 1969 by the
The guidelines issued by the Institute of Marketology (IMO) of Switzerland to produce organic tea have been adopted in the Temi Tea Garden; a project initiated in April 2005 and nearing completion. In growing organic tea, agrochemicals are avoided by the tea estates that resulting in low production costs. Many European countries and Japan have shown a preference for tea produced by adopting the organic manuring method.[4][6]
Estate
The Temi Tea estate was established in 1969 covering an area of 177 hectares (440 acres). The lie of the land shows gentle slopes that originate from the Tendong hill range. The ground conditions indicate
Before the estate was created, the land was a Sherpa Village with around 10 acres of nurseries of the Forest Department around the Missionary Building which became the office cum residence of Divisional Forest Officer (South & West Division). During
The floral composition of the tea estate consists of broad leaf vegetation comprising
Weeds identified in the estate are
Fauna includes species of the
Temi Guest house
The Temi Tea Factory Guest house has 4 rooms that are available to tourists on pre-booking. Guided Tea-Factory tour and Tea-Tasting sessions are also arranged by Temi Guesthouse on request and are chargeable. "Temi Tea Garden Guest House". Temi Guesthouse.
Products
The tea produced by the Temi Tea estate are packaged (0.250 kilograms (0.55 lb) packages) under many brand names; the brand name "Temi Tea" is of the best quality consisting of pure tea "golden flowery orange pekoe #1 (TGOFP1)". The next in quality is the popular brand of 'Sikkim Solja' followed by 'Mystique' and 'Kanchanjunga Tea'. It is also sold in the form of 'Orthodox dust tea'. The Tea Garden Employees Consumers' Co-operative Society Ltd. markets these products at a kiosk in the vicinity of the Temi Tea factory.[8] About 75% of the tea produced in this estate is auctioned in Kolkata and the balance 25% is marketed as packaged tea in the domestic market.[8]
- Organic tea
Tea production in this estate has been switched over from conventional method to 'Organic Method' according to the guidelines of the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) of Switzerland. This conversion initiated in 2005 is reported to have been completed. The change over has involved use of organic bio-
Demand
The tea produced at this tea estate is auctioned at the Kolkata Tea Auction Centre and has been able to garner one of the highest bids for its tea. Its export potential is gradually increasing and the Tea Board of the estate is making efforts to have direct link with international markets. In an effort to increase the production of tea in Sikkim, the Industry Department of Sikkim has given an open invitation to entrepreneurs to establish more tea gardens in Sikkim.[1] The state Government, under the Tenth Five Year Development Plan, has identified tea under the long term strategy "raising and processing of plantation crops i.e. tea, oranges and cardamom" as one of the thrust areas for industrial development of Sikkim.[10]
Awards
The Tea Board of India awarded the ‘All India Quality Award’ to the Temi Tea Garden for two consecutive years of 1994 and 1995.[1]
Future goals
According to the Chairman, EXIM Bank, Temi Tea, which is following the organic growing practice is in popular demand in Europe, particularly in Germany. In line with the GI certification obtained for the "Choice Organic Darjeeling Tea", Temi Tea Estate has also applied for GI certification for its organiurce it is known that the Temi Tea is sold in the international market at Rs 2500 per kg (US$ 50/kg). EXIM Bank is also proposing to finance popularisation of organic tea by offering grant funds up to 50% to the tea estates, and in this context the GI certification would also help to protect the quality product of the estate.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Tea in Sikkim". Sikkim Industries Government of Sikkim. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Eco Destinations Of Sikkim" (PDF). Temi Tea Garden. Envis Skiim: National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Indian State : Sikkim: Tea Industry". National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Tea in Sikkim: Profile of the State Occupational Pattern". MSME=Ministry of Macro Small &Medium Enterprises, Government of India. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "South district". Temi Tea Garden. Sikkim Infonet. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Exim Bank to fund branding of Indian organic tea". Thaindian. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ K.C.Pradhan, former Sikkim Forest Chief
- ^ a b "Temi Tea". Sikkim Online. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Temi tea garden to be fully organic by April, 2008". News One India. 13 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ "Industrial Investment in Sikkim". Sikkim Industries Government of Sikkim. Retrieved 2 June 2010.