As far as first impressions go, your first meeting with Rajah (Swaraj Kumar) Banerjee is unequivocally unforgettable. Within moments of entering his office-cum-study, with its trove of relics from years of visitors, Rajah will offer two things – some of the world's finest tea and the most intense conversation. Not long after you settle into your chair, he might quiz you on the four uses of mulch, enlighten you on the magic of biodynamic agriculture and ascertain the true purpose of your visit to his Makaibari Tea Estate. He will challenge your perceptions and quite probably change your mind on at least one thing. You will rise from your chair refreshed by tea yet dazed by brilliance. You will replay the meeting in your mind for days to come.

This is part of the magic and mystique of Rajah Banerjee.

Darjeeling Black Orthodox Tea is renowned worldwide and Rajah Banerjee is a living legend in Darjeeling. He is a champion of the organic tea movement, a social activist for tea labourers and small organic farmers, a tireless anthropologist preserving the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region and an environmentalist fighting to conserve its rich biodiversity.

Rajah is one of the few owners living in his tea estate, an estate that has been with his family for more than 150 years. Living in the Makaibari Tea Estate enables Rajah to manage its day-to-day operations that result in some of the world's finest teas.