Nepal tea increasingly competitive versus Darjeeling
Orthodox tea produced on the Nepalese side of the Himalayan mountains is increasingly seen as a threat to the famous Darjeeling tea grown in neighboring India. While very similar in taste and appearance, Nepalese tea has thus far lacked the brand awareness and reputation associated with Darjeeling, especially among western buyers. Until recently, it was even missold as Darjeeling tea due to its lower price point. However, Nepalese mountain tea has been gaining fans in recent years on the back of improved quality and industry's promotional initiatives, driving prices and popularity upwards. But prices remain competitive compared to Darjeeling tea because the teas are produced by small growers rather than big estates, which have higher operational costs because they traditionally provide schools, hospitals and food for the workers.