Dhantala Tea Processing Private Limited

Our spot is over in Shibrampally, in the Haiderpara area of Siliguri, specifically Ward No. 39. If you’re looking for us, we are at Gouri Kunj, which is where Dilip Kumar Chakraborty is. It’s a residential neighborhood, so it doesn't feel like those giant, cold factories you see in movies. We deal with tea processing, which basically means our days are ruled by the weather and the harvest cycles. When the fresh leaves come in, everyone has to move fast. The smell of tea is everywhere here—it gets into your clothes and your hair. We have a few machines that hum all day long, and sometimes the noise makes it hard to hear the person standing right next to you. It’s a family-style environment where we all know each other’s names. We aren't trying to conquer the world; we just want to get the tea dried and sorted properly so it can go out to the markets. There’s a lot of manual labor involved, like lifting heavy sacks and checking the moisture levels by hand. The driveway is often blocked by a truck or a pile of supplies. We take our breaks on the porch, watching the rain or just taking a breath before the next load arrives. It’s a simple, honest way to make a living in this part of West Bengal and it keeps us busy from morning until night.