The Makaibari Estate
MAKAIBARI IS NESTLED BETWEEN HIMALAYAS IN THE DISTRICT OF KURSEONG, DARJEELING. THREE RIVERS FLOW THROUGH MAKAIBARI AND EMPTY INTO THE BALASON — THE PRIMARY RIVER OF THE REGION.
Darjeeling
IMMERSED IN HISTORY THROUGH ITS MANY IDENTITIES
Darjeeling produces 0.5% of global tea annually, but due to its spectacular terroir and unique environmental conditions, Darjeeling Tea – has earned the sobriquet of the best tea in the world — and Makaibari comfortably sits at the helm.
THE PRESENT
A life-long endeavour that keeps living and giving
Makaibari is managed as a living organism that has a scope far beyond the fence lines of the garden. The plantation covers 550 acres and the forests cover twice that area, making supervision intensely difficult. While this makes it thrice as hard to farm tea at Makaibari, the collective effort of man
and forests gives its brew the magical flavour. The tea plantations are forest-nurtured — hemmed in with virgin forests, grasses & shrubs, with a plethora of flora & fauna. The ecosystem is suited to the bio-mimicking system that is employed across the estate to develop its distinctive and bio-diverse terroir.
Factory &
Community
BEING THE OLDEST TEA FACTORY IN THE WORLD, IT EMPLOYS A CRAFT-DRIVEN METHODOLOGY COUPLED WITH A COMMUNITY-LED FUNCTIONING.
Makaibari’s tea factory born a hundred and fifty years ago is built entirely in wood, bamboo and cast iron — managed through the partnership of dedicated individuals, most of whom are born at Makaibari itself.
The factory has grown organically over the years in different stages becoming a sample of living industrial archaeology with several of the machinery still being used to this day.
Distinctive Processes
SYNERGISING ORGANIC — BIODYNAMIC — PERMACULTURE — SOCIO-AGRICULTURE
A collective effort of man, nature and ancient agri-wisdom makes an incredible difference to the enchanting brew that reaches the world.