Tea in Kolkata

Kolkata runs the tea trade. The Calcutta Tea Traders Association auction, running since 1861, is one of the oldest tea auctions in the world, and the brokers, blenders and exporters around it handle a large share of Darjeeling and Assam production. Retail is a small edge of a very large wholesale business.

Name	Where	What they carry
Calcutta Tea Traders Association auction1861	Netaji Subhas Road	One of the oldest tea auctions in the world; trade only.
Tea broking houses	BBD Bagh, Netaji Subhas Road	Brokers, blenders and exporters around the auction.
Dolly’s Tea Shop1980s	Dakshinapan	A long-running Kolkata tea room and shop.
New Market tea counters1874	New Market	Retail Darjeeling and Assam.

Name	Where	What they carry
Dakshinapan tea shops	Dhakuria	Tea alongside the state emporia.
Gariahat tea retailers	Gariahat	Loose-leaf retail.

Worth knowing

• First flush Darjeeling is spring, second flush is summer and stronger; they are different teas
• Buy from a specialist with an auction connection, not a supermarket shelf
• Assam CTC is what most of India actually drinks
• Ask for the garden name. A Darjeeling without a garden is not really a Darjeeling.

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