Lopchu Tea Estate

"Lopchu" is a derivative from Lepcha language, which prevailed in the area when the garden was set up.{{cite web | url = https://www.darjeelingteaboutique.com/lopchu-tea-estate/| title= Lopchu Tea Estate| publisher= Darjeeling Tea Bouquet |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}

Lopchu Tea Estate was owned by British planters, possibly the Brown family, in its earlier days.{{cite web | url = https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/global-dunedin/2015/12/08/lopchu-a-tea-family-in-dunedin/ | title = Lopchu: A Tea Family in Dunedin | publisher = University of Otago |accessdate = 8 March 2020}} The garden was established in the early 1860s.{{cite web | url = https://www.ajantatea.com/product/details/lopchu-golden-orange-pekoe-26.html| title = Lopchu Tea | publisher = Ajanta Tea|accessdate = 8 March 2020}}

In 1954, Lopchu Tea Estate was purchased by S.N.Kanoria and G.L.Kanoria, two cousins and both jute traders. Now, their grandsons, Rajesh Kanoria and Sandeep Kanoria, own the garden.{{Cite web |title=Lopchu Tea Estate Darjeeling, Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe Tea Online |url=https://www.thunderbolttea.com/lopchu-tea-estate/ |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=Thunderbolt Tea, Darjeeling |language=en-US}}

{{OSM Location map

| width=350| height=370| zoom=10

| coord={{coord|26|57|0|N|88|20|0|E}}| float=left|caption=Places and tea estates in the north-eastern portion of Darjeeling Sadar subdivision (including Rangli Rangliot CD block) and Kurseong subdivision in Darjeeling district
CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, H: hill centre, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate, TA: tourist attraction
Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

|mark-coord1={{coord|27|1|20|N|88|21|21|E}}| label-pos1=right|label1= Rangli Rangliot| numbered1=R| mark-title1= Rangli Rangliot (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #C42222|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2

|mark-coord2={{coord|27|2|10|N|88|22|0|E}}| label-pos2=right|label2=Takdah| numbered2=R| mark-title2= Takdah (R)

|mark-coord3={{coord|27|3|30|N|88|23|12|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Peshok TG| numbered3=R| mark-title3= Peshok Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord4={{coord|27|0|30|N|88|24|13|E}}| label-pos4=right|label4=Teesta Valley TG| numbered4=R| mark-title4= Teesta Valley Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord5={{coord|26|48|45|N|88|15|38|E}}| label-pos5=right|label5=Longview TG| numbered5=R| mark-title5= Longview Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord6={{coord|26|57|57|N|88|22|20|E}}| labelpos6=right| label6=Mangpu| numbered6=R| mark-title6= Mangpu (R)|

|mark-coord7={{coord|26|54|20|N|88|16|40|E}}| label-pos7=left|label7=Monteviot TG| numbered7=R| mark-title7= Monteviot Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord8={{coord|26|49|35|N|88|17|22|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Rohini TG| numbered8=R| mark-title8= Rohini Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord9={{coord|26|46|20|N|88|21|35|E}}| label-pos9=left|label9=Sukna| numbered9=R| mark-title9= Sukna, Darjeeling (R)

|mark-coord10={{coord|26|50|35|N|88|19|45|E}}| label-pos10=right|label10=Tindharia| numbered10=R| mark-title10= Tindharia (R)

|mark-coord11={{coord|26|52|5|N|88|17|55|E}}| label-pos11=right|label11=Giddapahar| numbered11=R| mark-title11= Giddapahar (R)

|mark-coord12={{coord|26|47|47|N|88|18|30|E}}| label-pos12=left|label12=Simulbari TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= Simulbari Tea Garden (R)

|mark-coord13={{coord|26|56|11|N|88|28|2|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Sittong| numbered13=R| mark-title13= Sittong (R)

|mark-coord14={{coord|26|53|49|N|88|28|22|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14=Sevoke| numbered14=R| mark-title14= Sevoke (R)

|mark-coord15={{coord|26|52|15|N|88|15|50|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Ambootia| numbered15=R| mark-title15= Ambootia (R)| shape-color15=#C42222

|mark-coord16={{coord|26|49|45|N|88|19|0|E}}| label-pos16=right|label16=Cart Road| numbered16=CT| mark-title16= Cart Road (CT) | shape-color16=#800000

|mark-coord17={{coord|26|53|30|N|88|17|30|E}}| label-pos17=left |label17=Kurseong| numbered17=M| mark-title17= Kurseong (M)| shape-color17=#800000

|mark-coord18={{coord|27|5|55|N|88|20|50|E}}| label-pos18=left|label18=Glenburn TE| numbered18=TE| mark-title18= Glenburn Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color18=#87A96B

|mark-coord19={{coord|27|4|28|N|88|22|10|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19=Lopchu TE| numbered19=TE| mark-title19= Lopchu Tea Estate (TE)|shape-color19=black| label-size19=13|label-color19=black

|mark-coord20={{coord|26|51|30|N|88|14|8|E}}| label-pos20=left|label20=Balasun TE| numbered20=TE| mark-title20= Balasun Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color20=#87A96B

|mark-coord21={{coord|26|51|20|N|88|16|50|E}}| label-pos21=right|label21=Castleton TE| numbered21=TE| mark-title21= Castleton Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color21=#87A96B

|mark-coord22={{coord|26|53|35|N|88|20|0|E}}| label-pos22=right|label22=Goomtee TE| numbered22=TE| mark-title22= Goomtee Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color22=#87A96B

|mark-coord23={{coord|26|54|35|N|88|20|20|E}}| label-pos23=right|label23=Jungpana TE| numbered23=TE| mark-title23= Jungpana Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color23=#87A96B

|mark-coord24={{coord|26|50|40|N|88|16|20|E}}| label-pos24=left|label24=Makaibari TE| numbered24=TE| mark-title24= Makaibari Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color24=#87A96B

|mark-coord25={{coord|26|55|24|N|88|17|50|E}}| label-pos25=right|label25=Margaret’s Hope TE| numbered25=TE| mark-title25= Margaret's Hope Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color25=#87A96B

|mark-coord26={{coord|26|52|25|N|88|26|20|E}}| label-pos26=bottom|label26=Mahananda |labela26= Wildlife| labelb26= Sanctuary| numbered26=NP| mark-title26= Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary (NP)| shape-color26=#228B22

|mark-coord27={{coord|26|49|0|N|88|31|0|E}}|label27=Teesta River| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=45| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27=none

|mark-coord28={{coord|26|47|0|N|88|23|30|E}}|label28=Mahananda|labela28= River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=45| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28 =none

|mark-coord29={{coord|26|45|0|N|88|17|0|E}}|label29= Balason River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=35| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29 =none

|arc-coordA={{coord|27|9|0|N|88|11|50|E}}|arc-textA= SIKKIM| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-161| arc-gapA=-4| arc-radiusA=0.7

|arc-coordB={{coord|26|50|0|N|88|7|0|E}}|arc-textB= NEPAL| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=60| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.4 }}

Lopchu Tea Estate is located north-east of Darjeeling, mid-way between Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and close to Sikkim. The nearest Darjeeling tea estate is Glenburn Tea Estate, separated by a hill. Takdah is also close-by.

Located at a height of {{convert|4800|ft}} nestles in a glen overlooking the majestic Kangchenjunga peak.{{cite web | url = http://lopchu.com/ | title = Enjoy your cuppa that cheers| publisher = Lopchu |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}

Lopchu has {{convert|226|acres|abbr=on}} under tea cultivation. Most of tea plants were transplanted from Yunan province in China, and much of the tea gets exported to Germany and other European countries.{{cite web | url = https://in.teabox.com/collections/estates-darjeeling-lopchu | title = Lopchu Tea Estate| publisher = Tea Box |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

The Economic Times says that Lopchu, a 90-year old tea brand, "has won a dedicated, global following after enduring tough competition." Many of the leading Indian tea connoisseurs love its aroma and smoky taste.

{{cite web | url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/lopchu-tea-a-brand-that-puts-no-stock-in-harrods/articleshow/44779741.cms | title = Lopchu tea: A brand that puts no stock in Harrods | publisher = The Economic Times, 11 October 2014 |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline|Darjeeling}}

{{Darjeeling District}}

Category:Tea estates in Darjeeling district