Tea Journey Travel
Tea Tourism

Travel for Tea

Discover teahouse treks, luxury hideaways, and indigenous cuisine

More In This Issue

Arkasa Tea Room

Arkasa Tea Room

With every delicious sip and satisfying bite, the Araksa Tea Room in Bangkok is revolutionizing Thai tea culture. Araksa means "to preserve" and both the tea garden and restaurant promote Thai traditions while simultaneously elevating the way tea and food are produced and consumed.

Anything for Tea: Budget Backpacking in Nilgiris

Travelling through the Nilgiris on a comfortable budget, Anesce Dremen finds that it costs little to make real connections, have real conversations. As she allows her journey through the Nilgiris to unfold at will, she finds herself immersed in memorable encounters and experiences. Told with honesty, written vividly, it's a view of the Nilgiris not often seen. (Itinerary and costs included)

Beyond the Brew: Immersive Tea Tours

Immersive tours are a remarkable equalizer, bridging the gap between seasoned tea connoisseurs and novices. Through shared experiences of plucking tea leaves alongside local farmers, crafting their blends, and witnessing the alchemy of leaf to cup, they forge bonds that go beyond language and cultural barriers. 

An inheritance of tea sets

On a Chai Trail: The Bengali and their Cha

That Bengalis love tea is now legendary and in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, tea is part of the social and cultural fabric. Our Chai Trail series takes readers up close and personal to the tea culture across India, and this story is a peek into the Bengali homes and the place that tea has in their lives.

Tea Travel Destinations

Destinations: India

India's remarkably diverse tea lands are the perfect destination for holiday vacationers. The cool hill stations in the Nilgiris in South India, the gentle slopes of Assam, and the rugged, picturesque gardens of North India each offer a unique tea culture and cuisine.

Sinna Dorais at Kadamane Tea Estate

Sinna Dorais Bungalows Balance Comfort and Old World Charm

If you drive 250 kilometers west of Bangalore, India, you reach Sakleshpur, where the coffee country begins. And sitting here amongst the coffee estates is a tea garden called Kadamane. And that itself seemed reason enough to book a stay.

Who’s Cooking Badaga Food? 

Badaga food from the tea-growing Nilgiri mountains is distinctive from all other Indian tea-inspired cuisines. Tourists drawn to South India are fascinated by the stories of this indigenous tribe that has lived in the Blue Mountains for centuries.

Parsi Choi

On a Chai Trail – The Parsi Choi

Parsis call tea choi, not chai, cha, or tea, but choi. Choi was never, ever consumed on its own. There were always Bhakras, the soft cookies made with dough fermented using palm toddy, or chaapat, a flat, mildly sweet pancake. For special occasions, ghaari - thick dough discs filled with a mixture of bananas cooked in ghee, dates cooked till gooey, or a sweet dal paste were served.

Teahouse Treks: Of Himalayan Hospitality and Tranquility

The aroma of sweet tea wafts through the air, that weary trekkers like us respond eagerly to. Over the years,  I have taken to stopping by the teahouses on my treks, even if for a brief pause.

The Mayfair Manor, Jungpana

Cocooned in Darjeeling: The Mayfair Manor, Jungpana

Stay in a restored bungalow originally built in 1910 and once the residence of the Nepali royal family. It offers 12 exquisitely decorated and spacious suites, each named for an historical figure attached to the estate.

Kanchenjunga

The Indulgence of Tea Bungalows

Experience a holiday in the tea gardens and hotels near Darjeeling where lodging is an indulgence, with old-world charm and gorgeous vistas.

Taiwan tea culture tour, WOW

Authentic and Sustainable Tea Tourism

Consumers who experience the origin, terroir, and processing of the leaves in the cup can engage more deeply by visiting tea-growing regions to learn about tea. Visiting origin forever alters one’s relationship to tea. But before delving into the myriad tour options it is important to reflect on how our actions may impact others. Namely, while simultaneously seeking an authentic, hands-on tea tour, one must also consider which programs are sustainable and respectfully engage the host culture(s).