# Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1050/2011 of 20 October 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Darjeeling (PGI)), Division 5.3: Causal link between the geographical area and a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Geographical and agro-climatic: Due to the unique and complex combination of agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the region comprising of all the 87 tea gardens within the district of Darjeeling as well as the production regulations by the Board, tea produced in this region has the distinctive and naturally occurring organoleptic characteristics of taste, aroma and texture which have won the patronage and recognition of discerning consumers all over the world and put Darjeeling tea as a niche luxury product.
Topographical: The Darjeeling tea gardens are situated at an altitude from 600 to 2 250 metres on steep slopes which provide ideal natural drainage for the generous rainfall the district receives. The rare flavour of Darjeeling tea is a result of the combination of plant genes, soil chemistry, altitude, temperature and rainfall unique to the Darjeeling hills. The Darjeeling tea industry follows an established set of agricultural practices which has been developed and used for over 150 years to sustain growth of shoots, while maintaining bush heights suitable for plucking by hand.
Harvesting: A Darjeeling tea bush yields not more than 100 g of made tea in a year (between 9 to 10 million kg of Darjeeling tea is produced annually by the Darjeeling district). Each kilogram of fine tea consists of more than 20 000 individual hand-picked shoots. This gives an idea of the extent of human effort involved in its production.
Other factors: historical, traditional, cultural and social, as well as a special uniqueness and reputation are attached to ‘Darjeeling’. Indeed, the tea produced in the Darjeeling region and having the said special characteristics, is and has for long been known to the trade and the public in India and abroad as Darjeeling tea and as such it has acquired a substantial domestic and international reputation. Any member of the trade or public in India or abroad ordering Darjeeling tea or seeing tea advertised or offered for sale as Darjeeling will expect the tea so ordered, advertised or offered for sale to be the tea cultivated, grown and produced in the aforesaid region of the Darjeeling district and having the aforesaid special characteristics. Therefore, the name ‘Darjeeling’ for tea from the district of Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, has acquired a special uniqueness and reputation in the public mind when used in relation to tea produced in the aforesaid region of the said district so that the right to attach it to such tea forms part of the specific repute of all those who are duly associated with the said region. The prices of Darjeeling tea are also higher than for other teas in India and overall in the world market. In other words, the name ‘Darjeeling’ when used in relation to tea, qualifies as a geographical indication in India.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/1050/annex/II/division/SINGLE/division/5/division/5.3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2011-1050/annex-II/division-SINGLE/division-5/division-5.3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.