Badamtam Tea Estate, Darjeeling — The Garden of the Buddha

A Century and a Half of Darjeeling's Finest

A Lepcha Word, a Bamboo Carrier, a Legacy

Badamtam Tea Estate was planted by Christine Barnes in the year 1858. The name of the estate could have been derived from a Lepcha word which means bamboo water carrier. Wikipedia Over 165 years later, the estate remains one of the most beautiful and revered in all of Darjeeling.

Badamtam Tea Estate is located in the Lebong Valley about 17 kilometres west of Darjeeling town. After the two estates of Bada Ging and Chhota Ging, starts the area of Badamtam, going till the Majhitar basin in Sikkim. Wikipedia A suspension bridge over the Rangeet River connects the garden directly to Sikkim — one of the most dramatic estate boundaries in the Darjeeling hills.

A fourteen-feet high serene statue of Buddha, created by a famous artist, adorns a part of the garden. The Rangeet and Majhitar rivers flow through the green hills and valleys, harbouring a profusion of birds and flowers. Goodricke

The Buddha came to Badamtam in pieces, was assembled on the garden with special rituals performed, and now stands as the spiritual guardian of the estate. There is a quality of stillness at Badamtam that goes beyond the scenery. The garden produces organic tea, and it feels, in the truest sense, like a place that has been tended with care over a very long time.

Two Postings, One Beloved Garden

My father was posted to Badamtam as Assistant Manager — and his second son, my brother Aditya, was born here. He returned to Badamtam again in a later posting, which tells you something about the relationship between a planter and a garden. You carry certain places with you.

My son and my wife at Bdamtam Tea Estate

Asha Didi — the garden's resident nanny, known to every family who has passed through Badamtam — brought up most of the managers' children on that estate over the decades. I remember going to look for her when I went to Badamtam.

Mom with Asha Didi and me, on the right is me as a one year old.

That kind of continuity, of a person who becomes inseparable from a place and its children, is something that only tea estate life produces and only tea kids will appreciate.

My father with Subroto Sen, Senior Manager - Badamtam Tea Estate, my wife Shikha getting a lesson on Darjeeling Tea from the Tea Masters

Subroto was 22 years old when he joined tea under my father in Sankos Tea Estate in the Dooars, over the next few years Subroto was posted to Danghujhar and Aibheel with Papa, they formed a bond it was like Subroto could read my fathers mind. They were in total sync.

When Papa was to retire in 2002, the company requested him to move to Darjeeling and take charge of Badamtam as General Manager, he wanted to hang his boots and move to the city to be with us. The company asked him to recommend someone worthy of Badamtam, Papa promptly took Subroto's name and guess what Subroto worked there for more than a decade and guess what he eventually retired from there!

Ps. the secret is that I don't think Subroto knows till now what transpired behind his posting to Badamtam Tea Estate.

Papa with Subroto Sen in Badamtam Tea Estate

Years later, when I was learning to taste tea, I had a tasting session at Badamtam alongside my father and my mentor Subroto from Sankos days. My father still remembered the Factory Babu — the supervisor who oversaw labour and manufacture in the factory for years and the glow in his eyes when they met again. 

On Papa's last day with us, in fact the last few hours before he passed away we had AV2 Moonlight Tea from Badamtam, it was my last cup of tea with my father. He told me 'Subroto is making good tea, he is doing a fantastic job' an hour and a half he left us and passed on. Deep in my heart I cry whenever I think of Badamtam, what comes to mind is the bond he shared with the garden and the story of how Subroto reached there to produce the best Darjeeling Tea.

Subroto went on to set world records for Badamtam and put its produce of Darjeeling First Flush on the world leader board of 'The World's Best Teas' - Thats the story of Badamtam !

Some connections transcend professional postings. That is what Badamtam does to people.

About the Estate

The Tea — What's in the Cup

From this pristine environment come fine teas, of which the first flush teas, the light and delicate Chinas, and the brisk and bright Assam hybrids are especially renowned. Goodricke

Badamtam's first flush is among the most prized in Darjeeling — bright, clean, with the mineral lift that elevation and correct processing produces. The Moonlight White from Badamtam is a seasonal treasure, produced in small lots and sought by connoisseurs globally.

Tasting Profile:

Brewing Guide:

• Temperature: 85°C (First Flush / White); 90°C (Second Flush)
• Steep time: 2–3 minutes
• Best enjoyed: Without milk; use spring water if possible