Many tea estates in Nepal offer tours and tastings to visitors, making tea tourism a growing industry. Ilam, Dhankuta, and Jhapa are popular tea-growing regions in Nepal. There, visitors can learn about the tea production process, tour the tea gardens, and taste the various kinds of tea grown there. In addition, the tea industry in Nepal provides a significant source of income for numerous local communities, and touring tea estates can offer a one-of-a-kind cultural and gastronomic experience.
Tea production has been a major industry in Nepal since the middle of the 19th century. The nation is now well-known for its high-quality black, green, white, and oolong teas, as well as specialty blends like masala chai and herbal teas. Some tea estates offer lodging in addition to tea tours, allowing visitors to stay on the property and observe daily life in a tea-producing community. Overall, tea tourism is a great way to see the beautiful landscapes of Nepal, learn about its tea culture, and help the people who live there.
Tea tourism in Nepal can provide visitors with a variety of experiences, including hiking and trekking through the tea gardens, taking in breathtaking views of the Himalayas, and participating in cultural activities like performances of traditional music and dance. The unique terroir of Nepali tea, which is influenced by factors such as altitude, climate, and soil composition, can also be learned by visitors.
Additionally, a lot of tea estates employ eco-friendly and sustainable practices like organic farming and water conservation, which can provide visitors with an educational experience about responsible agriculture and environmental stewardship. In general, tea tourism in Nepal provides visitors interested in tea, nature, and culture with a rich and varied experience.
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Ilam is a pioneer in tea cultivation and one of Nepal’s major tea-growing districts. The country’s tea cultivation, which began in Ilam in 1920, is now present in 44 districts.
The Kanyam tea garden is one of Nepal’s most popular tourist destinations for tea. It is in the green lap of Ilam, surrounded by greenery and adorned with natural beauty. Kanyam is the center of orthodox tea production in Nepal. It is in the eastern district of Ilam.
It has become a popular destination for thousands of domestic and international tourists annually due to its wonders, such as its mild climate, abundant green hills, and beautiful tea gardens surrounded by dense natural forests. From Kanyam, you’ll have an unparalleled view of Mount Kanchenjunga and other breathtaking landscapes. From Phikkal Bazaar to Kanyam, a day excursion is possible.
The town has a number of hotels and resorts, and the tea gardens are only a short walk away. Horseback riding, hiking, photography, and stunning scenery abound throughout the region. Kanyam is regarded as one of the most popular tourist and picnic spots in eastern Nepal.
Visitors to Shree Antu can also enjoy a sunrise viewing at the well-known tea garden. Shree Antu receives thousands of Nepalese and Indian tourists annually from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Siliguri, and Kolkata. It’s a village that transports you to a tropical paradise with picturesque tea gardens, pine forests, a view of the Terai plains, and settlements that showcase their distinctive culture and way of life. The hosts will provide you with a bamboo-covered basket in which to pick the young tea leaves if you’re excited about tea picking. While picking up the tea leaves, you can also choose to dress like a local and appear like one.
Opportunities to host guests or run homestays in people’s homes are available as part-time jobs in tea tourism. As tour guides or owners of tea houses, souvenir shops, and other businesses in this industry, many locals have found employment. As tourism has increased, the tea-producing region has reached a new stage for host-guest interactions, giving people the power to change society. In fact, tea tourism has the potential to help Ilam flourish.
For Nepalese people, tea is not only a commodity but also a way of life. Tea is the most commonly offered beverage to guests as a token of hospitality and is the first beverage consumed in the morning. Tea tourism is a type of cultural tourism that combines leisure activities like sightseeing, business, learning, tea leaf handpicking, and tea shopping with learning about tea and tasting tea. It’s an opportunity for tourists to learn about and enjoy the authentic folkways and natural ecosystems of tea-growing regions.
Ecotourism and community-based tourism, for example, can be linked to tea tourism. The development of tea tourism relies not only on the fame of the famous tea but also on the geographical features of the natural environment.
Tea lovers from Germany, France, Canada, and the US are showing interest in these packages, which travel agencies have introduced to visitors to Nepal as a result of the rise in tea tourism. Additionally, the government has been promoting ecotourism destinations in tea-producing districts like Ilam and Dhankuta.
In this day and age, it is of the utmost importance to promote and popularize Nepali tea on a global scale. Inviting tourists to the country to participate in such activities will undoubtedly contribute to the industry’s continued success. As a result, tea tourism has the potential to be a useful resource for expanding Nepal’s tourism market.
