Temi Tea Garden is a tea plantation located in the South Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Situated in the vicinity of Ravangla and the village of Temi, it is widely regarded as the only tea estate in Sikkim and produces an orthodox black tea that is marketed under the Temi label. The garden is owned and operated by the Government of Sikkim through its Temi Tea Estate, functioning as a state public sector enterprise.
| Name | Temi Tea Garden |
|---|---|
| Type | Tea plantation (state-owned) |
| Location | Temi, near Ravangla, South Sikkim |
| State | Sikkim, India |
| Owner | Government of Sikkim |
| Product | Orthodox black tea |
The garden lies on a gentle hillside below Tendong Hill, in the South Sikkim district. It is reached from the Ravangla–Damthang road and is close to the small settlement of Temi. The estate's elevation, mountain climate and well-drained slopes are considered suitable for the cultivation of high-quality tea, and the surrounding landscape includes views of the Kanchenjunga range on clear days.
Temi Tea Garden was established in the late 1960s during the period when Sikkim was a kingdom under the Chogyal. It was set up as a project to provide employment and a source of revenue for the state, drawing on the model of tea cultivation prevalent in neighbouring Darjeeling. After Sikkim's merger with the Indian Union in 1975, the estate continued to operate as a state government enterprise.
Over the decades, Temi tea has gained recognition in domestic and international auctions for its quality, and is sold both as bulk export tea and in retail packaging. The estate has also been promoted as a destination for tea tourism, with visitors coming to view the plantation, the factory and the surrounding landscape.
The garden produces orthodox black tea using leaves grown on its own slopes, processed at an on-site factory. Because it is the sole tea garden in Sikkim, Temi occupies a distinctive position in Indian tea production: its output is small in comparison with major tea-growing regions, but it is closely identified with Sikkim's agricultural identity and is among the better-known products of the state. The estate is also significant as an employer in the South Sikkim region.
The plantation forms part of the tourism circuit around Ravangla, which also includes the Buddha Park at Ravangla and Tendong Hill. Walking trails through the tea bushes, visits to the factory during processing seasons, and a guest house associated with the estate have made Temi a recognised stop for visitors travelling through South Sikkim.