Ooty and Coonoor Tea Factories, June 2019

It was incredible to be able to visit some tea fields and factories in the Nilgiri region of Tamil Nadu, India. I am still drinking the tea I purchased as of September 2020!

These pictures were taken on my Ricoh KR-10 Super, using a Ricoh 50mm lens and a Tokina 28mm lens. The films used were primarily Fuji Superia 800, C200 and Velvia 100. The grain from the expired and push-processed film that I was using complements the dusty, old-fashioned factories very well.

Dodabetta Tea Factory: The Tea Museum

This is an incredibly popular attraction, with good reason. For approximately 20 rupees one can view the process of producing tea, from leaf to packaging - by looking on from a walkway. This is one of the best tourist attractions I have visitied, and is made even better by the abilitiy to purchase tea at outlet prices at the end of the tour.

Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

There is a steady flow of customers! Fuji C200.

Fuji C200.

Down the chute! Fuji C200.

Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

Benchmark Tea Factory

This factory was harder to photograph, but it had a bigger selection of sample teas! It also had a great little museum detailing the history of tea in the region.

This one was under-exposed. Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

India is very good for hand-painted signs. Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

This was also, sadly, under-exposed! Again, very nice hand-painting is visible. Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

Tea fields around Ooty

Fuji Velvia 100.

Highfield Tea Factory, Coonoor

This factory was very sleepy, with most machinery out of use and only a few workers. I was taken on a guided tour by a young man, who explained the process of making tea and eucalyptus oil.

Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

Fuji Superia Xtra 800

Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

Fuji Superia Xtra 800.

Fuji Velvia 100.

Tea fields around Coonoor

Fuji Velvia 100.

Fuji Velvia 100.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

This deserves a whole page in its own right - but for now here are a few bonus pictures from my journey to/from the tea fields! This railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I wasn't very happy with the photos taken on Fuji C200 below, as they are overexposed. Now, I am happy just to have the memories!