History of Sungma and Turzum Tea Estate

Both the gardens of Darjeeling was established during the 1860s. An earthquake in 1934 demolished the factory of Sungma Tea Estate and circumstances led to the merger of the two garden into one successful quality tea producing unit. The factory that they use then after is that of Turzum Tea Estate.

In late 1950s the garden was taken over and managed by the Jhunjhunwala till it was bought by the Jindals in and around 1975. The Jindals managed this Darjeeling tea estate for about sixteen years till it was sold to the Jayshree Group which manages a number of tea plantations in Darjeeling and Assam. Till date, the combined tea garden is still managed by this group and is successfully producing one of the best teas of Darjeeling.

This tea estate is a combination of two individual tea estate viz, Sumgma and Turzum tea estate.

Sungma is a derived from the words Sanga Maru  which in Tibetan language means a place where the mushrooms grows.

Turzum is derived from the word Taru Zum which means a weekly market just like the weekly haat bazaar.

Location of Sungma Tea Estate and Turzum Tea Estate

Both the tea gardens are located in the Rungbong valley linked by a nearest town called Sonada about 25 kilometers from Darjeeling town but is nearer to a popular lake town called Mirik. The elevation ranges between 1100 meters and 1700 meters. The merged garden lay side by side and the combined garden is surrounded by other top Darjeeling tea producing tea gardens. To the east is the Dooteriah tea estate and Avongrove tea estate. Hemming in the south is Nagari tea estate and  Gopaldhara tea estate. And in the West is Sevok and Rongtong tea estate.

Darjeeling teas of Sungma and Turzum Tea Estate

The garden has been consistently producing quality Darjeeling black teas and Darjeeling green teas of the following flushes.

First Flush

Second Flush

Autumn Flush

Certificates Awarded to the tea Estates :

• ISO 9001:2008 by TUV NORD.

• HACCP by TUV NORD.

• Organic certificates – NPOP, NOP & JAS by IMO.

• Fair Trade –  certification awaited.

Address of Sungma and Turzum Tea Estate

P.O: Pokhariabong, PIN – 734216 , Dist.: Darjeeling , West Bengal, INDIA

Administrative address:

Jay Shree Tea & Industries Ltd.  

Industry House, 15th Floor, 10,Camac Street, Kolkata-700 017, India. 

Contact persons for Sungma and Turzum Tea Estate

• Mr. Anil Kr. Jha, Superintendent

• Mr. Ashok Kr. Somani, Chief Accountant