It is said that the story of tea begins in ancient China. Legend has it that in 2737 BCE, Emperor Shen Nung accidentally discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree drifted into his pot of boiling water. The resulting brew was refreshing and energizing. Whether fact or folklore, this tale marked the beginning of tea’s long and winding history.

By the 6th century, tea had become a prominent part of Chinese culture. It evolved from a medicinal herb to a drink of choice, celebrated in poetry, art, and ritual. Buddhist monks used it to stay alert during long meditation hours, further spreading its popularity across East Asia, especially in Japan and Korea.

Nestled in the Western Ghats of Kerala, Munnar is a hill station known for its breathtaking landscapes, cool climate, and, of course, tea gardens. While Assam and Darjeeling led the early charge, Munnar rose to prominence in the late 19th century when British planters, charmed by its rolling hills and ideal climate, started cultivating tea there. Today, Munnar tea stands as a symbol of this legacy, fragrant, flavourful, and deeply rooted in the region’s history.

Sir John Daniel Munro, a British official, played a key role in developing Munnar’s plantations. By the early 1900s, the region was buzzing with activity, tea factories, labour settlements, and a thriving ecosystem of tea processing and distribution.

In 1964, James Finlay & Co. entered a collaboration with the Tatas to establish an Instant Tea Factory at Nullatani Estate, which went on to become the world’s largest Instant Tea Factory outside the USA. Following this, Tata acquired the complete business interests of the Finlay Group in India, leading to the formation of Tata-Finlay Limited. This era saw a wave of innovation, including the setup of a fully automated tea factory at Madupatty and the beginning of organic tea cultivation at Chunduvurrai Estate, complemented by an organic tea manufacturing unit at Yellapatty Factory. In the mid-eighties, Tata Tea established Asia’s largest Super Tea Factory at Chunduvurrai Estate.

Tata Tea eventually evolved into an independent identity and, in 2005, transferred the majority of its tea plantations in Munnar to Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited (KDHP). KDHP not only became India’s first and largest employee-owned plantation company, with over 12,500 employees as shareholders, but also carried forward the legacy under the Ripple Tea brand. Today, KDHP produces a diverse range of teas including black, green, and specialty blends across multiple state-of-the-art factories certified for food safety and quality.

As a tribute to Munnar’s rich tea heritage, the Tata Tea Museum, officially known as the KDHP Tea Museum, was also inaugurated, marking an important milestone in preserving the legacy of tea in the region.