Three years after Gorkhaland agitation, Darjeeling tea set for a rebound

More than two years after facing poor prices owing to quality slippage and loss of key export markets, Darjeeling tea is poised for a rebound this year.

In 2017, following the Gorkhaland agitation for separate statehood, the Darjeeling tea industry was totally shut for the entire prime season and the pruning cycles were destabilised. Pruning is essential to maintain quality of this tea variant. It is because of this quality that Darjeeling tea, commonly referred to as the “Champagne of Teas”, commands exorbitant prices globally.

"As the pruning cycle was thrown out of gear, so was the quality and the