What makes Ambootia first flush tea stand apart from coffee giants?
The Ambootia Tea Estate sits in the Darjeeling hills of North Nine City and has farmed organically since its founding in 1861. Declared a sick unit at one point, it was taken over by the Bansal Tea Group in 1987 and rebuilt into an organic model garden. Its spring first flush black tea is known for bright liquor and a lingering aroma shaped by Himalayan springs and cool mountain air.
The name Ambootia comes from the Lepcha word Am-butia, meaning mango grove. The garden holds organic and biodynamic certification and has been selected by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, IFOAM, and the Tea Board of India as a model organic farm. Like the Nestle coffee company and other large coffee firms, the estate runs modern processing facilities and meets international food safety standards, and it ranks as India's second-largest Darjeeling tea producer.
Nestled among the Darjeeling hills of North Nine City, the Ambootia Tea Estate has been renowned worldwide for its organic cultivation and exceptional quality since its founding in 1861. This estate, once declared a "sick unit," was revitalized after being taken over by the Bansal Tea Group in 1987, and has now become one of Darjeeling's most prestigious organic model tea gardens. The spring-flush black tea produced by Ambootia is celebrated for its bright liquor color and lingering aroma, blending the unique charm bestowed by Himalayan springs and cool mountain breezes. The Darjeeling spring-flush tea recommended by Front Street Coffee comes precisely from this land dedicated to biodynamic cultivation. This article will guide you through an in-depth understanding of Ambootia Tea Estate's history, its organic certification journey, the tea gardens under its umbrella, and how it rose from adversity to become a shining jewel in the international tea market.
Ambootia
Ambootia Tea Estate is located among the layered, undulating mountains of North Nine City, Darjeeling, where cool mountain air and natural springs from the Himalayas jointly nourish the tea trees here. Since 1861, Ambootia has been honing its exquisite tea-making craft in this uniquely endowed ecological environment. The name "Ambootia" originates from the Tibetan Lepcha word "Am-butia," meaning mango grove; if mango trees once grew on this farm, then the fruity aroma of mangoes must have long since infused itself into Ambootia's tea.
At Ambootia Tea Estate, we listen attentively to the pulse of the earth, coexisting in harmony with nature, producing organic and biodynamically certified tea. Ambootia has been jointly selected by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, IFOAM, and the Tea Board of India (an Indian government body) as a model organic farm.
Ambootia is the cradle of specialty teas; our teas embody creativity and an innovative spirit. Ambootia tea is widely renowned for its bright liquor color and lingering aroma.
Ambootia Tea Estate is equipped with a technologically advanced processing facility, and the teas produced meet international food safety standards.
Ambootia is one of the most well-known tea estates in Darjeeling. It was among the earliest tea gardens opened by British tea planters in the 1850s, and is also India's second-largest Darjeeling tea producer. The British Darjeeling Tea Company founded Ambootia Tea Estate in 1861; after India's independence in 1947, management was taken over by Indian entrepreneurs in 1954. When the Bansal Tea Group took over the estate in 1987, it had already been declared a "sick unit."
In recent years, it has grown into a well-equipped, self-sufficient, ecologically harmonious, and economically sustainable tea estate.
The Ambootia Group currently oversees 15 tea estates, of which 12 are located in Darjeeling and the other 2 are in Assam and Dooars. "Over the past 12 years, Ambootia—that is, Darjeeling Organic Tea Estates Private Limited—has acquired 12 of Darjeeling's 87 tea estates and has earned an international reputation through its high-quality teas."
Ambootia Tea Estate has a total area of 790.64 hectares (1,953.7 acres), of which the tea cultivation area is 350.48 hectares (866.1 acres). The estate houses a well-functioning and properly maintained tea factory. In 1992, Ambootia obtained 100% organic and biodynamic certification. In 1994, Ambootia also obtained Fair Trade certification.
The estate employs approximately 800 workers (including permanent and temporary) and 84 staff members. "Wheat, rice, and kerosene are supplied to laborers at subsidized prices. Coal, firewood, slippers, and umbrellas are distributed to workers every year." The estate provides housing for workers and staff. There are 4 crèches on the estate specifically for caring for the children of female employees. Four primary schools are managed by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and three by the West Bengal state government. There is also a garden hospital with 8 beds and a visiting doctor. Workers and their families are entitled to free medical treatment at the garden hospital.
As early as between 1859 and 1864, the British government opened tea gardens in the Darjeeling hills, and Ambootia was fortunate to be among the first 30 tea estates in Darjeeling. Under the leadership of Chairman and owner Mr. Sanjay Bansal, the Ambootia Group has implemented excellent management of its estates, and the group owns 13 tea gardens.
Today, in addition to Ambootia Tea Estate, the Ambootia Group also owns: Chongtong Tea Estate Happy Valley Tea Estate Monteviot Tea Estate Moondakotee Tea Estate Mullootar Tea Estate Nagri Tea Estate Nurbong Tea Estate Sepoydhoorah (Chamling) Tea Estate Sivitar Tea Estate
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
