Protests are jeopardizing India’s most prized Darjeeling tea leaves
40%
Protests in the Indian town of Darjeeling are stopping pickers from working in the season that generates their best tea—and that makes up 40% of their yearly revenue.
Published | Photo by Reuters/Rupak de Chowdhuri
Darjeeling tea plants produce new leaves five times a year. Drinkers prize the second batch of leaves.
The second season happens in June and July, but separatist unrest is stopping the harvest. The riots also forced shops to close and made tourists leave.
Reuters/Stringer
Drinkers pay more for the second batch of leaves, so losing it can be very damaging for growers.
The Darjeeling area produces up to 10 million kg of the famous tea every year, employing some 57,000 people.
The riots have been going on for two weeks. Because the second season happens until next month, there could still be time to harvest if the unrest stops soon.
Reuters/Stringer
