The tea workers are all female and of all age, as is the custom industry wide, because of the fact that only women have the patience and dexterity required for this delicate task. No gloves or knives are allowed at the first flush (Spring plucking), although for the rougher leaves of Autumn, some of the workers do wear gloves. Darjeeling, India.
Nepalese tea-plantation laborers hail from all castes, but mostly from the poorer, less-privileged Kiratis and Mongolian (Rai, Limbu, Tamang etc). Most of them are uneducated. Darjeeling, India.
