The walk starts at the estate gate on the edge of Ilam Bazaar and climbs gently along the contour paths between rows of tea. Your guide explains why the bushes are kept at waist height, how the two-leaves-and-a-bud rule works and why the steep, misty slopes here produce a tea close in style to Darjeeling. Between March and November you will usually find teams of pluckers at work, baskets on their backs.
After about an hour and a half on the slopes we walk down to a small processing unit or tea shop, depending on the season and who is working that day. Orthodox tea is withered, rolled, oxidised and dried in stages, and you can often see at least one step in action. The large factory belonging to the estate is not always open to visitors, so we do not promise a factory tour.
The tasting compares two or three grades side by side, usually a spring first flush, a fuller summer tea and a local green or white tea. Expect around 30 minutes of tasting and time to buy. Wear walking shoes with grip: the paths are clay and become slippery after rain.
Good for
- Couples
- Families
- First-timers
- Seniors
- Photographers
Questions travellers ask
Can we visit the Ilam tea factory?
Sometimes. The main estate factory is a working plant and opens to visitors only when the manager allows it, mostly in the plucking season. We always include the garden walk and a tasting at a smaller unit or shop, and add a factory visit when it is possible on the day.
When is first flush tea plucked in Ilam?
First flush plucking usually runs from mid-March to April, after the winter rest. The second flush follows in May and June, the monsoon tea through the rains, and an autumn flush in October and November. Spring and autumn teas are the most prized for flavour.
Is the tea garden walk suitable for older travellers?
Yes, at an easy pace. The paths are gentle but uneven and can be muddy, so we keep the route short for seniors and use a vehicle to reach the tasting point if needed. Allow about 2 hours for a relaxed version.
