2 February 2023
Despite urgings from Salim to go earlier, we set off to the Tea Museum at 1100. When we arrived things looked very busy but the queue at the ticket office was short and after paying our Rupees 125 each we entered.
The museum gave a good oversight of the development of tea cultivation in the High Range which first began in the late 1800's. Prior to that the area was little explored although it had been mapped. A 30 minute video documentary was excellent and the plantations had been partly sold to Tata after Independence, who finally bought out the Finlay Company. Tata also finally sold its interests in tea growing to focus on the value-add consumer products. Today the area is cultivate by Ripple Tea which is a workers owned company.
Despite urgings from Salim to go earlier, we set off to the Tea Museum at 1100. When we arrived things looked very busy but the queue at the ticket office was short and after paying our Rupees 125 each we entered.
The museum gave a good oversight of the development of tea cultivation in the High Range which first began in the late 1800's. Prior to that the area was little explored although it had been mapped. A 30 minute video documentary was excellent and the plantations had been partly sold to Tata after Independence, who finally bought out the Finlay Company. Tata also finally sold its interests in tea growing to focus on the value-add consumer products. Today the area is cultivate by Ripple Tea which is a workers owned company.