Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal

Dooars-Terai CTC Tea (Kumarika)

The Terai foothill area of Uttar Dinajpur (Itahar block, Raiganj subdivision) is part of the Dooars-Terai tea region of the Jalpaiguri Division, and the Jay Shree Tea & Industries (B.K. Birla group) runs the Kumarika/Ananyashree estate there producing CTC black tea. Dooars-Terai tea is described as a bright, smooth and full-bodied liquor, a little lighter than Assam, and the region is pushing to sell it under its own 'Dooars tea' brand like Darjeeling and Assam. It is not yet GI-tagged, but it is sold as loose-leaf/packaged CTC by the estate and by local tea merchants. Buyers get a single-origin North Bengal CTC tea with a documented garden origin.

Typical price: ₹150-600 per kg

Buying tip: Buy Kumarika CTC loose-leaf from the Jayshree/Jay Shree Tea online stores or from Dooars tea merchants; look for the Dooars-Terai single-region identity on the pack. CTC leaf is made for strong milk tea, so expect a robust brew.