By this time last year (2011), First Flush Darjeeling Tea production was in full swing with many gardens having sold the first couple of invoices to Darjeeling buyers. However, the situation is very different in 2012 – with most Darjeeling Tea plantations have almost no production and its middle of the month in March !
The planters put the entire blame on the weather Gods who can make or break the tea fortunes in the Land of Shiva in Darjeeling. To understand this exactly – you have to understand a bit about the Darjeeling tea seasons or what we call Flushes ! It is divided into First Flush, Second Flush and Autumn Flush. Autumn flush occurs during the period of October – November following which the Darjeeling year ends. The teas and bushes take rest during the next couple of months, the planters prune them, uproot them and do all that is necessary to prepare them for the next season such that the young buds that come out are energized, flavourful and aromatic. The topography of Darjeeling is such that the tea bushes need a good amount of rain/sun to ensure that the leaves sprout well. By First Flush season, winter and with the winter season the cold recedes such that it allows the new buds and leaves to come.
Typical Rainfall Distribution in India for the months of March-May
Now this is the problem in 2012 so far. The cold of the winter season which recedes by end February is still there thus not allowing the necessary temperatures for the teas to come up. In addition, rainfall has been non existent till now. A good dose of healthy rain is very much needed. As shown from the images by the Indian Met Department (above) – Darjeeling area receives a good dose of rainfall from March-May period. But this year the Rain Gods have not been so kind so far. And the situation does not look any better from what the rainfall department is predicting !
One thing for sure about the Darjeeling Tea industry is that it is never predictable ! When we expected the fortunes of Darjeeling to go down – it went up, when we expected quality to go down, it went up ! So again as we speak – the clouds are dark, there was slight drizzle and strong rains now. Maybe the Gods will surprise us again !
