Terai vs Dooars
The two plains districts beneath the Darjeeling hills, separated by the Teesta and constantly folded into each other in trade descriptions. They differ in soil, in what the gardens look like and in the character the trade expects from each.
What is being compared
Why these get confused
Tea from the Terai and the Dooars is sometimes marketed under the Darjeeling name’s halo without claiming the name itself — ‘from the Darjeeling foothills’ and similar. The geographical indication covers the hill district, and these are different places at a tenth of the altitude.
Point by point
| Aspect | Terai | Dooars |
|---|---|---|
| Position | West of the Teesta, directly beneath the Darjeeling hills. | East of the Teesta, at the foot of the Bhutan hills. |
| Soil | Sandy alluvium where the plains meet the foothills. | Flat and heavy-soiled. |
| Garden layout | Narrow belt, mixed estate and smallholder. | Large, level estates. |
| Manufacture | CTC predominantly, with some orthodox. | Mostly CTC. |
| Character | Brisk and spicy, with a distinctive edge attributed to the transition zone. | Bright and straightforwardly full; blending material rather than a signature tea. |
| Elevation | 80 to 350 metres. | 50 to 300 metres. |
The short answer
Neither district sells on its own name and both are worth distinguishing because they are what a great deal of ‘Himalayan’ and ‘Darjeeling region’ tea actually is. The Terai edge is real enough that blenders buy it deliberately, which is more than can be said for most plains tea.
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