Cradled in the lap of the Himalayas, where the Vedas were created, Makaibari (literally "Maize Land") is in Kurseong, Darjeeling. Established in 1859, it has gone on to become what many consider the best tea garden in the world. But it is far more than that...

Makaibari is an aesthete's delight, a visual oasis sandwiched between the dusty cities in the plains and the now famous tourist area of Darjeeling, or Dorjee Ling, the original Tibetan name. One of the estate's unique features is that it keeps two-thirds of its land under forest cover, taken care of by rangers native to the area. The estate is home to over 600 teaworkers and their families, and since 1991 has been 100% organic (certified by SKAL International) and biodynamic. It is run under permaculture principles, with hundreds of birds, unsurpassed floral diversity, a wildlife sanctuary and a biodynamic vegetable and herb garden.

Makaibari Tea Estates has won many prizes for its teas - too numerous to mention. But prizes are dry statistics for Rajah Banerjee, the fourth generation scion of the family who runs the world's oldest single-owner tea estate. A master tea-maker with exquisite skills, it's the mystique, not the money or prizes, that inspires him.

Fair Trade and Makaibari
Makaibari is Fairtrade ceritifed. The Fairtrade premium the estate's workers receive has enabled them to finance projects like village electicity; a community loan fund, where workers can borrow to meet medical and education needs at no interest, as well as other needs such as small business loans; and workshops and infrastructure for the production of organic fertilizers, which the estate then buys to use on its tea plants.

Bercat Pty Ltd imports the Makaibari tea for New Internationalist. Bercat specialises in organic and Fair Trade coffees and teas, and supports sustainable agriculture, organic farming, environmental protection, fair trade for smaller farmers and producers in developing countries and Australia.

Project Leopard
Makaibari's Project Leopard has reversed the trend of rapid decline in the leopard population in the sub-tropical rainforests of the Himalayan foothills. Begun by the father of the present owner 40 years ago, it now boasts a community of 11 leopards - once there were only two.

The leopards are monitored by rangers who are paid by the estate management. While the leopards stray on to the roads, and can be seen resting on seats built for travellers, they are harmless to humans because of the prey the Makaibari forests provide them. They feed on the wild boar, barking deer, ghorol (Himalayan mountain goat), pheasants, hare, monkeys, porcupine and wild Himalayan jungle fowl that make up the faunal diversity of Makaibari.