info@theleafstores.com
Makaibari is the world’s first tea factory which was established in the year 1859 and is one of the oldest tea garden in Darjeeling. Makaibari is more than a tea estate, this land is cultivated by the village farmers which retains 70% of its tea estate under forest cover.
The word ‘Makai’ means corn and ‘bari’ means garden, these cornfields were turned in to lush tea gardens by Swaraj kumar Banerjee also known to be Rajah Banerjee, the man who quit oxford for the tea gardens. He is the fourth generation owner of the tea estate.
The tea estate has an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. The best Darjeeling tea garden plantation takes place over 300 acres out of a total of 1700 acres, the remaining area and is reserved for forest development.
Makaibari sells a variety of teas and they are not just limited to the list:
- Silver tips imperial
- Organic black tea whole leaf
- Organic black broken
- Organic green tea whole leaf
- Organic green tea fanning
- Springtime bloom
- Summer solstice muscatel
- Darjoolong
- Bai Mu Dan
- Organic assorted (black & green) leaf
- Silver green
It is the only tea garden where tea plants grow in harmony with the forest. In the year 1988 Makaibari was the first tea garden in the world to receive an organic certification. H.H. the Queen was presented silver tips imperia which is the most awarded Darjeeling tea in the world, by the Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi. Makaibari tea estate has been awarded for her holistic philosophy as a gift to the planet. A unique 50 kg lot of silver tips imperial was sold at a world record price of $1850 per kg in the year 2014.Besides being the best tea garden in Darjeeling Makaibari is continuously adding feathers in her hat by the certifications and affiliations they have been receiving. Demeter, FairTrade, Organic Europe, USDA, JAS are few of their certifications. The magic of this mystical Darjeeling tea is an experience that cannot be replicated in many places. Makaibari has a very simple approach towards them being the best is the smaller the leaf the better the taste and they have been following this habit for years now.
