A full day programme with tea leaves picking, processing and tea tasting experience
Munnar -perched on the roof of Western Ghats was explored by John Monroe in 1877 during a land survey of Travancore High range for British India. Later two Scottish men Henry & William Turner pioneered plantations in Munnar under a concession from the then King of High Range. They constituted 'North Travancore Land Planting & Agricultural Society' in 1879. Thus begins the age of Plantations in South Western Ghats. The first plantations were Cinchona, Coffee, Cardamom and Sessile. Later Baron Ato Von Rosenberg, a German planter joined them and constituted United Planters Association of South India (UPASI). In 1895 Finley Company reorganised all plantations and constituted all under their management agent 'The Kannan Devan Hills Producers Company'. In 1973 , after FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) came into existence, the Finley company lost its holdings and a new company constituted under the then management company Tata Tea. Thus Tata Finey born. In 1983 Tata took over the complete plantations from the Finely and now its Tata Tea.
A Study tour through the rolling hills of tea garden experiencing Tea from plant to packet. A full day exploration by walk, interaction and participation with planters, and workers .
The day starts with early morning ride from your hotel in Munnar to a private tea plantation. The plantation is more than hundred years old and located in the foothill of Aanamudi - the highest peak in South India. The geographic feature of the area offers excellent scenic wonders including sighting of wildlife. The tour starts with a walk through the garden with tea pickers. Our guide - a tea expert - will explain the method and norms of picking.
You can join them and start picking tea leaves. Your collection will be taken to a mini factory separately. Mean time you can interact with the workers and supervisor. After a tea break you will be invited to visit their factory. There you can experience all levels of processing and production. Then it is the time for you to make your own tea with the leaves you collected in the morning. You can do all processes in the mini factory with the help of workers.
Your lunch will be arranged in the Colonial Bungalow once used by British Planters. After the lunch a guided walk through the garden in the forest fringe to watch nature, wildlife and birds. Return to the factory in time for 'Tea Tasting'. Mean time your own tea, which is picked and processed by you, will be ready for packing. After a tea and snack return to your hotel.
Munnar is connected from Cochin International Airport and the drive is hardly 4 hours and is one of the most sought after destinations of South India. To know more about the itineraries related to the Nature and adventure programs in Munnar and related attractions, please log on to www.keralavoyages.travel and to the link "Tour Packages".