Tea Gardens

Mirik's terraced tea estates cascade down the hillsides in waves of green. Thurbo Tea Garden and Ging Tea Estate welcome visitors for tours showing the journey from leaf to cup. Watch skilled workers pluck “two leaves and a bud” with remarkable speed, then follow the process through withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying. The gardens are particularly photogenic in morning light, with workers in colourful clothing dotting the emerald slopes. Most estates offer tastings where you can sample delicate first-flush teas. Some tours require advance booking through your hotel.