Puttabong Tea Estate: One of the Largest Tea Gardens in Darjeeling
One of the largest Darjeeling tea gardens, Puttabong Tea Estate is a magnificent plantation overlooking the scenic, snow-capped Kanchenjunga mountain. Situated at an altitude of 1,500 to 6,500 feet, it holds a significant place in Darjeeling’s complex tea history as the first tea estate in the region. It was also the first to introduce mechanized pruning machines and commercial tea trading.
This garden is planted with Darjeeling Clonal, Chinary bushes, and Clonal tea stock, specially developed to suit the area’s agro-climatic conditions. What sets Puttabong apart is its commitment to sustainable production. The estate houses a large vermicompost facility, cattle farming operations, and a production center for liquid fertilizers made from local herbs.
Famous for its light muscatels, handmade blends, and silver tippy teas, this tea estate is a true delight for any tea enthusiast.
The names of Darjeeling teas always include the tea garden where they were grown and manufactured—a historic method of identification and authentication. Estates such as Arya, Puttabong, Phoobsering, Singbulli, Sungma, and Turzum have built strong reputations for producing some of the world's finest teas. By identifying the garden, buyers connect with its long-standing tradition of excellence and high manufacturing standards. Since a good reputation takes years to establish, tea estates work diligently to maintain their quality and protect their brand.
Darjeeling has around 80 tea gardens, each of which can also be referred to as a tea estate or tea plantation. These estates are large-scale operations, typically covering 300 to 1,300 acres, with hundreds of workers and their families residing on the premises. The total resident population of a tea estate often reaches several thousand, including children.
According to the Tea Board of India, “Darjeeling Tea” refers exclusively to tea that is cultivated, grown, produced, manufactured, and processed in tea gardens within the hilly areas of Darjeeling.