Food · Kausani, Kumaon
A walk through the Kausani tea estate
Walk the tea rows on the slopes below Kausani, see how leaf is picked and processed when the factory is working, and buy hill tea at the estate shop. It is an easy outing and a reminder that Kumaon once had a serious tea industry.
Photo: sushanta mohanta sin… · CC BY 3.0 · CommonsThe British planted tea in Kumaon in the 19th century, with gardens around Almora, Sattal, Chaukori, Berinag and Kausani. Many were later abandoned as tea moved to Assam and Darjeeling. Kausani's estate is part of efforts by the state to revive hill tea, and its rows cover the slopes just outside the village.
The plucking season runs roughly from spring to autumn. In the morning you may see pickers working the bushes, taking the top leaves and bud. When the small processing unit is open, staff sometimes explain withering, rolling and drying. The estate shop sells black and green teas in small packs.
Ask at the gate before walking the rows, stay on paths and do not pick leaves. Weekends are busier with day visitors. Combine the walk with Baijnath, which lies on the same road down the valley, or with a slow lunch back in the village.
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Questions
Before you book
Is there a tea garden in Kausani?
Yes, a tea estate lies on the slopes just outside the village on the Baijnath road. Visitors can walk the rows and buy tea at its shop. It is part of efforts to revive hill tea in Uttarakhand.
When is tea plucked in Kausani?
Roughly from spring to autumn, with the first flush in April and May. Plucking stops in winter. Mornings are the best time to see work in the garden.
Can I buy Kausani tea?
Yes, the estate shop sells black and green teas in small packs, typically ₹150–500 depending on type and weight. Packs make light, useful gifts.