Wwoofing* at Nuxalbari
How to create world-class teas?
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
How do we plant tea? What makes for good soil? How is tea harvested? What happens after? Does Green Tea and Black Tea come from different plants? What magic transforms a leaf into delicious tea?
If you are passionate about tea and these are questions you need answered, come to Nuxalbari.
*WWOOF: World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms, is a hospitality service operated by a loose network of national organizations that facilitate homestays on organic farms.
Nuxalbari Tea Estate is a member of Wwoof India. If you want to volunteer through this network please enrol with Wwoof in your country
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
A month or a year or a lifetime. We have been at it for five generations, but we still consider ourselves students.
We take on volunteers for a minimum of 15 days (there is no maximum!) and train them in the fundamentals of organic agriculture. Once you have understood the fundamentals, we train you specifically in tea cultivation.
Then you move on to working in other areas like the Nuxalbari Tea Factory to understand the basics of tea making and tasting.
A typical day at Nuxalbari
How long before I can become a Master Tea Maker?
A typical day at Nuxalbari
- Wake at 6 AM and make yourself breakfast
- Report to work (assigned to you the evening before) by 7.15 AM
- Weed, hoe, dig, pluck etc until 11.30 AM
- Lunch break 11.30-1.30. Hot vegetarian meal will be served at your bungalow.
- Work from 1.30-3.30 PM
- Tea Break 3.30-5.30
- Office hours 5.30-7 PM
Attending office is not mandatory for volunteers, but this is where the problems of the day are sorted out and planning for the next day happens. It is fascinating and we encourage you to attend to grow your knowledge.
- Hot dinner served at 7.30 PM
- Everyone goes to bed early after a long, fulfilling day spent outdoors.
FAQ for Volunteers
Food & Board
Live like a junior tea planter in a cute one bedroom cottage.
For breakfast you can help yourself to fresh seasonal fruit, cereals, bread, eggs, tea and coffee. A clean, simple Indian vegetarian lunch and dinner with a choice of vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal will be offered to you between Noon-1.30 pm and 7.30-8 p.m. every day except Saturdays.
On Saturday, the garden holiday, you can buy your own fresh produce and cook yourself or head out to Siliguri or Bagdogra to eat out at one of the many restaurants available.
Note: We have a nominal grocery charge of Rs.1000/day/person for all three meals. Please pay the office for the week in advance. If you are traveling over the weekend you can inform the office and pay accordingly.
Getting Around
You will have access to a bicycle in good working condition for getting around our 1200-acre estate. Please store it every night inside the bungalow every night. Please do not take it out of the tea estate. Any loss or damage will have to be borne by you.
Health
You will have access to the nurse and clinic on the estate during working hours. We can handle minor ailments like fevers, diarrhoea, sprains and cuts. However, we strongly recommend getting yourself medical insurance in case you need hospitalisation.
Our preferred hospital is Neotia Hospital half an hour away near Siliguri, but can take you to a hospital of your choice, should you require it.