As a kid, going to the supermarket with my mom was always a highlight of the week. And amidst all the excitement of exploring the aisles, the tea section held a special fascination for me. The shelves were stacked with boxes of all shapes and sizes, each boasting a different flavor or blend.

I remember standing there, gazing at the colourful packaging and imagining how they could make so many flavours of tea. Did they use real fruit? How did they get all those amazing tastes into those tiny tea bags?

Whenever I asked my mom about it, she’d do her best to explain. She told me about how tea leaves were harvested and processed, yet, I never seemed to truly understand the hard work and love poured into making the tea. This was until I went to Sikkim, and the pictures of tea gardens splattered on yearly calendars formed a real canvas in front of my eyes. 

As I navigated through the winding roads snaking through the lush, green countryside, I was engulfed by a sense of serenity and awe. Surrounded by endless stretches of neverending tea gardens, each leaf seems to whisper tales of history, culture, and the essence of the land.

The air was fragrant and crispt with the earthy scent of tea leaves, carried by the gentle breeze that rustled through the rows of bushes. As I rolled down the windows, the cool air brushed against my skin, invigorating my senses and heightening my appreciation for the beauty that surrounded me. However, this tea estate was unlike any other, it was nestled in the embrace of the mountains.

Standing amidst the towering peaks, enveloped in the mist that shrouds the landscape, I was reminded of the ethereal beauty of mountain tea gardens. These sanctuaries of serenity hold a special place in my heart, not just for their beauty, but for the magic they hold. My eyes took in the sight of the bushes, sloping down the steep mountain as the sweet smell of tea swirled and danced in the air.

As I stood on the lush hillsides of the tea gardens, the morning mist slowly lifting to reveal the intricate web of verdant bushes, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the scene unfolding before me. Women, draped in colorful wrappers, their laughter mingling with the rustle of tea leaves, moved gracefully among the rows, deftly plucking the tender shoots. It was quite an inspiring sight, witnessing these women harvest under the gentle sun, their hands moving with practiced precision, careful not to miss any leaf.

As their eyes reflected onto mine, I noticed that sheltered among other emotions, was struggle. The constant art of tea-picking was surely tiresome, especially under the wrath of the scorching sun. However, I saw how they masked all these emotions with a welcoming smile, proving their strength and determination.

When I stepped through the doors of the tea factory, I was enveloped by the rich, earthy scent of tea leaves, a fragrance that immediately transported me into a parallel universe where every leaf held a story. The chosen leaves embark on a transformative journey, guided by the hands of machinery and the expertise of tea masters. Here, in the dimly lit withering rooms, the leaves surrender their moisture, their aroma intensifying with each passing hour. For in these mystic halls, where tradition meets innovation, I witnessed firsthand the magic of tea-making, a process that transcends time and borders to unite us all in a shared love for the leaf.

What I carried back with me, was not just the knowledge of tea, but the emotions that held it all in place. As the orange globe sunk into the horizon, the dim shadow spread over the tea estate, causing the leaves to glow in a golden hue.