Kangra Valley

India

Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh is one of India's oldest and smallest tea-producing regions, with a history dating back to the 1850s. The Dhauladhar mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop and a cool, dry climate distinctly different from Assam or Darjeeling. Kangra teas were once considered rivals to Darjeeling but a devastating 1905 earthquake destroyed most gardens and infrastructure, and the region never fully recovered its former scale. Today, artisanal producers are reviving Kangra's reputation, crafting small-batch green teas and oolongs with a distinctive herbaceous, slightly woody character unique to the Himalayan microclimate.