Temi Tea
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Temi tea estate is the pride of Sikkim, located at stunning Himalayan landscape of South Sikkim, founded in year 1969 with an area of 176.8 hectares, produces some of the finest quality tea in India. Temi was project initiated by late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal in the mid nineteen sixties. And over the decades Timi tea has stood for the quality and unusual flavor. The fine aroma emanating from Timi tea leaves is the result of meticulous cultivation of select plants from the strain that is free from biological anomalies which then is further tempered by the fresh mountain breeze and rich highland soil. Hence the brew derived from fragile buds is strongly reminiscent of that Himalayan freshness. Temi tea garden is spread over 176.8 hectares, overlooking a high mountains and deep river valleys, the plantation is maintained by the body of four hundred conscientious workers. Their years of tender loving care for the plants has indeed infused a certain magic in their leaves as Temi tea has in recent times commanded the highest price.
Productions & Marketing
Temi Tea produces 1,00,000 kilograms of tea annually and the tantalizing first flush picking that bags the best price in the market is around 25,000 kilograms. Around 75 percent of the produce is sent to the auction center in Kolkata, while 25 percent is packaged for domestic sale. In 1997-98 the Temi Tea state has earned Rs. 86 lakh in revenues.
The production from the garden is marketed in four separate categories in order of quality and value. The finest tea comes under the brand name the estate "Temi", in which the basic contents are purely the tea golden flowery orange pekoe #1 (TGOFP1). Next in line is the hugely popular brand, 'Solja'. Third in the order is, 'Sikkim', and then finally dust.
Tourist Attraction
Temi welcomes visitors wanting to take look around it's pristine garden and also allows the more curious to view tea processing inside the factory. Visitors may also choose to spend a night or two at the nearby tourist lodge.
Just above the factory, by the side of the road is a small outlet run by the 'Tea Garden Employees Consumers' Co-operative society Ltd'. Which vendores exquisitely packaged tea for visitors to buy. one can find brand names such as Temi tea, Mysteaque, Sikkim Solja, Kanchanjunga Tea and Orthodox dust tea.