Updated: February 25, 2013, 12:00 AM
In pictures: The rolling green valleys of Kerala's tea country
A tea picker uses shears on the Lockhart Tea Estate owned by HML, near Munnar, Kerala, India. Simon de Trey-White for The National
A tea picker works on the Lockhart Tea Estate owned by HML, near Munnar, Kerala. Simon de Trey-White for The National
The Lockhart Tea Estate factory owned by HML. Tea production in India is facing challenges not just from China and other competitors but from the rising cost of labour and especially fertilisers. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Tea pickers using a motorised tea picking machine on the Lockhart Tea Estate. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Full bags of freshly picked tea leaves on the Lockhart Tea Estate. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Mr J.Durairaj, Assistant Director-Advisory Services of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation Regional Centre. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Freshly picked tea leaves in a drying trough in an orthodox production process tea factory near Munnar. This withering process has to reduce the humidity to 55%. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Leaf segregation machine in an orthodox production process tea factory. Simon de Trey-White for The National
A wood fired oven that provides hot air as part of the CTC tea leaf processing in the Talayar Tea Estate CTC (Crush Tear Curl) process factory. Simon de Trey-White for The National.
14th February 2013, Munnar, Kerala, India. Tea sifting - part of the CTC tea leaf processing in the Talayar Tea Estate CTC (Crush Tear Curl) process factory near Munnar, Kerala, India on the 14th February 2013. Simon de Trey-White for The National
An electrostatic sifting machine sifts tea to remove large particles in an orthodox process tea factory near Munnar, Kerala, India. Simon de Trey-White for The National
A worker handles tea in the sifing room in an orthodox process tea factory. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Tea lined up for tasting in the tea tasting room at the Talayar Tea Estate CTC (Crush Tear Curl) process factory. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Mr Bob Devaiah, Group Manager Talayar in front of the Talayar Tea Estate CTC (Crush Tear Curl) process factory. Simon de Trey-White for The National
Packaged Lockhart tea produced by HML. Simon de Trey-White for The National