Castleton Tea Estate

Castleton is the Darjeeling estate most associated with world-record auction prices. Owned by the Jay Shree Tea group, it sits on a steep south-facing ridge above Kurseong and has repeatedly produced second-flush lots that rank among the most expensive teas ever sold. Its muscatel character - a grape-skin, slightly winey aromatic depth - is considered the textbook example of what classical Darjeeling should taste like.

Established in the 1880s by Dr. Charles Graham, Castleton's reputation rests almost entirely on its second flush, plucked roughly late May through June when the leaves are attacked by the tea jassid insect. The plant's defensive response produces the compounds responsible for muscatel - a phenomenon Castleton's terroir seems to amplify more reliably than almost any other Darjeeling garden.

The estate spans a wide elevation range, with the highest sections among the loftiest planted areas in Darjeeling. Bushes are a mix of old China jat and AV2 clonal stock, with the prized muscatel lots typically coming from specific sections at mid-to-upper elevation. Processing is fully orthodox, with long, careful wither and gentle rolling preserving leaf intactness.

Castleton's specific 'DJ' lots - numbered invoice batches - are tracked by collectors the way wine vintages are. A handful of these lots over the past three decades have set successive world records at the Calcutta auction. Beyond the headline prices, Castleton's day-in, day-out second flush remains a benchmark by which other Darjeeling gardens are judged.

Signature teas

• Castleton Muscatel Second Flush
• Castleton FTGFOP1 Moondrop
• First Flush Clonal

Certifications

Tea Board of India Darjeeling GI

Visiting

Limited estate visits are possible through Jay Shree Tea; the factory can be toured by prior appointment.