Okayti, a Century and a Half of Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling Okayti tea comes from a garden founded in the 1870s in the Mirik valley, about forty kilometers from the town of Darjeeling. Now certified 100% organic, it is one of the most recognized estates in the region, and it is where our Darjeeling FTGFOP1 comes from.
Like most of Darjeeling's great gardens, Okayti was planted during the British colonial era, when the first tea bushes began to replace the forest on the slopes of the Indian Himalayas. Nearly a century and a half later, the garden still grows its tea bushes on the same terraces.
A Name Born From a Reputation, Not a Founder
The garden was originally called Rangdoo. Its reputation changed its name: the consistent quality of the tea produced here earned it the nickname "the only Okay tea" from buyers of the time. The nickname stuck, morphed into Okayti, and eventually replaced the original name on the labels.
The Kumbhat family ran the estate for several decades before it came under the management of the Evergreen group. Over the years, the garden has counted among its historic clients figures as diverse as Queen Elizabeth II, Nikita Khrushchev and Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India's first Prime Minister, proof of the house's longstanding reputation.
A High-Altitude Terroir in the Mirik Valley
Okayti spans about 650 hectares in the Mirik valley, of which just over 200 hectares are actually planted with tea bushes, between 1,200 and 1,900 meters of altitude. The estate is bordered by the Mechi river, which marks the border between India and Nepal here, and neighbors other renowned gardens in the region such as Gopaldhara and Thurbo.
This altitude, combined with the frequent fog and cool monsoon nights, slows the growth of the leaf and concentrates the aromas: this is what gives Darjeeling its famous muscatel character, unmatched by a lowland tea.
Our Darjeeling FTGFOP1, One of the Most Sought-After Grades
We import Okayti's Darjeeling FTGFOP1 directly, a whole-leaf grade made up of golden buds and young leaves carefully sorted. Its liquor develops notes of muscat, ripe plum and toasted nut, with a slightly honeyed finish. It is part of our Origin Tea collection, alongside our two teas from the Donyi Polo garden in Arunachal Pradesh and our teas from Sri Lanka.
Why Buy a Darjeeling Direct Rather Than Wholesale
Darjeeling is one of the most copied teas in the world: the region produces only a tiny fraction of the volume sold under that name globally each year. Buying directly from an identified garden like Okayti, rather than a generic blend labeled "Darjeeling," is the only real guarantee of traceability for the consumer.
This is the same logic we apply across our entire Indian range: one lot, one garden, a verifiable origin, with no blending or extra intermediary between the producer and the bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Okayti garden located?
Okayti is located in the Mirik valley, in Darjeeling district, about 45 km from the town of Darjeeling, India.
Where does the name "Okayti" come from?
The garden was originally called Rangdoo. It was renamed Okayti after being nicknamed "the only Okay tea" by buyers, won over by the consistency of its quality.
What is the FTGFOP1 grade?
FTGFOP1 stands for "Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe 1". It is one of the finest whole-leaf black tea grades, with a high proportion of golden buds.
What sets a genuine Darjeeling apart?
A genuine Darjeeling comes from a garden located in the protected Darjeeling region of India, grown at altitude. Its characteristic muscatel taste comes from the mountain climate and a specific tea cultivar, different from the one used in the lowlands.