Top 10 Tea Producing States in India: A Complete Guide

India is the world’s second-largest tea producer and one of the largest consumers of its own crop. From the misty highlands of Darjeeling to the rolling estates of Kerala, each tea-producing region imparts a completely distinct character to its leaves.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the 10 most significant tea-producing states in India — what makes each unique, and what kinds of tea they produce.

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1. Assam

Location: Northeast India, Brahmaputra River valley
Annual production: ~650–700 million kg (over 50% of India’s total output)
Tea type: Primarily CTC black tea; some orthodox black tea

Assam is India’s largest tea-producing state by a vast margin. The Brahmaputra valley’s low altitude, tropical heat, and heavy monsoon rainfall create ideal conditions for the Camellia sinensis var. assamica plant — a naturally larger-leafed variety that produces bold, malty, full-bodied tea.

Assam tea is the backbone of India’s chai culture. The CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl) process used for most Assam production creates small, uniform pellets that brew fast, strong, and deep — perfect for masala chai with milk. Orthodox Assam teas, less common, offer a more nuanced single-cup experience.

Brew Your Sip connection: Our Special Masala Chai and CTC chai blends use premium Assam CTC as their tea base.

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2. Darjeeling (West Bengal)

Location: Himalayan foothills, West Bengal
Annual production: ~7–8 million kg
Tea type: Orthodox black, green, white, and oolong

Darjeeling produces far less tea than Assam by volume, but commands some of the highest prices per kilogram of any tea in the world. Its high-altitude terroir — cool temperatures, misty mornings, and well-drained slopes — produces tea with a delicate, floral complexity unmatched anywhere else.

Darjeeling is the only Indian tea with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It produces four distinct seasonal harvests (flushes): the prized First Flush (March–April), the classic Second Flush with its signature muscatel character (May–June), the Monsoon Flush, and the Autumn Flush.

Brew Your Sip connection: We source GI-tagged Darjeeling directly from estates — First Flush and Second Flush Darjeeling, whole leaf grade.

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3. Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu)

Location: Blue Mountains, southern Tamil Nadu
Annual production: ~120–130 million kg
Tea type: CTC and orthodox black tea

The Nilgiri Hills (“Blue Mountains” in Tamil) produce clean, bright, and brisk teas at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 metres. Nilgiri teas are known for their fragrant, slightly floral aroma and clear amber liquor — popular for iced tea and blended teas globally. The steady climate allows year-round production, unlike the seasonal flushes of Darjeeling.

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4. Kerala

Location: Western Ghats highlands (Munnar, Wayanad)
Annual production: ~60–65 million kg
Tea type: Orthodox and CTC black tea

Kerala’s Munnar region, at elevations over 1,600 metres, produces some of South India’s finest orthodox teas. Kerala teas tend to have a robust body with clean, slightly earthy character. Wayanad, at lower elevations, produces high-volume CTC teas used in blending. Kerala tea estates are also known for their scenic beauty and growing agritourism industry.

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5. Himachal Pradesh

Location: Kangra Valley and surrounding areas
Annual production: ~1.5–2 million kg
Tea type: Orthodox green and black tea

Kangra tea, grown in the foothills of the western Himalayas, has its own GI tag and a history stretching back to the 1840s. Kangra teas are light-bodied and mildly astringent, with a delicate, slightly sweet character. Production is small and the teas are largely consumed regionally — making them a hidden gem for tea enthusiasts who seek them out.

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6. Tripura

Location: Northeast India
Annual production: ~8–10 million kg
Tea type: CTC black tea, some orthodox

Tripura is one of India’s fastest-growing tea regions, with a strong government push to expand smallholder tea cultivation. Tripura’s teas are similar in character to Assam — bold, strong, and suitable for everyday chai. The state has made significant strides in organic certification in recent years.

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7. Sikkim

Location: Eastern Himalayas
Annual production: ~1 million kg
Tea type: Orthodox green, white, and black tea

Sikkim is India’s smallest tea-producing state, but produces some of the most sought-after organic teas. The entire state is certified organic — Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state in 2016. Teas from Temi Tea Estate, Sikkim’s only major estate, are particularly prized for their clean, bright character and limited production.

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8. Uttarakhand

Location: Garhwal Himalayas
Annual production: Small-scale, growing
Tea type: Orthodox green and black tea

Tea cultivation in Uttarakhand is relatively recent but rapidly developing. The Kumaon region’s high altitude and cool climate produce teas with characteristics similar to Darjeeling — delicate, aromatic, and suitable for specialty tea production. The region is increasingly focusing on organic methods and specialty orthodox teas.

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9. Manipur

Location: Northeast India
Annual production: Small-scale
Tea type: Orthodox black and fermented (post-oxidised) tea

Manipur has a long history of local tea cultivation, with some wild tea plants believed to be native to the region. Meitei Phak — a traditional fermented tea consumed as a food and beverage — is unique to the region. Commercial tea production is growing but remains small-scale.

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10. Arunachal Pradesh

Location: Northeast India
Annual production: Small but growing
Tea type: Orthodox black tea, green tea

Arunachal Pradesh has significant untapped potential for tea cultivation, with large tracts of suitable high-altitude land. Existing teas from the region show Assam-like character, reflecting the shared terroir of the northeast. The state is attracting investment for specialty and organic tea production.

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India’s Tea Regions at a Glance

State	Region	Tea Type	Character
Assam	Brahmaputra Valley	CTC Black	Bold, malty, strong
Darjeeling (WB)	Himalayan foothills	Orthodox Black/Green/White	Delicate, floral, muscatel
Nilgiris (TN)	Blue Mountains	CTC & Orthodox Black	Bright, brisk, fragrant
Kerala	Western Ghats	Orthodox & CTC Black	Robust, clean, earthy
Himachal Pradesh	Kangra Valley	Orthodox Green/Black	Light, delicate, sweet
Tripura	Northeast	CTC Black	Bold, Assam-like
Sikkim	Eastern Himalayas	Orthodox (fully organic)	Clean, bright, premium
Uttarakhand	Garhwal Himalayas	Orthodox Green/Black	Delicate, Darjeeling-like
Manipur	Northeast	Orthodox & Fermented	Unique, traditional
Arunachal Pradesh	Northeast	Orthodox Black/Green	Assam-like, developing

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Why the Region Matters for Your Cup

The elevation, rainfall, temperature, and soil composition of each region directly shape the chemical composition of the tea leaf — which in turn determines taste, aroma, colour, and health benefits. This is what tea growers call terroir: the complete natural environment that gives a tea its character.

A cup of Assam and a cup of Darjeeling are as different from each other as a Bordeaux and a Burgundy — same plant, completely different expression. Understanding where your tea comes from is the first step to understanding what’s in your cup.

Brew Your Sip teas are sourced with full transparency on origin. Explore our full collection to find teas from Darjeeling, Assam, and beyond — all available as loose leaf, whole grade.