The shears, typically used to cut roses, are also helping to reduce the interval between plucking cycles, which is crucial to maintaining the flavour of the Darjeeling Tea. The gradual switch from hands to shears for plucking leaves has been prompted by the dwindling number of garden workers. The Darjeeling Tea industry now employs 55,000 permanent workers and 15,000 temporary labourers. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” said the manager of a tea garden in Darjeeling. “It is better to use shears and get quality leaves within seven to eight days,” he added.

Source: The Telegraph August 01, 2019 21:22 UTC