October 25, 2007
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India – the treasureland of tea
India is a land rich in treasures. India’s wealth has many facets. To mention a few: it has large tracts of rich soil, plenty of sunshine, readily available and well distributed water sources and a large population. Tea thrives on all these. In the words of Sir Fransis Bacon : “of great riches there is no real use except it be in their distribution”, and tea is a treasure which India shares with millions all over the world.
There is no other tea producing country in the world which can offer to the discerning consumers, the world over, such variety in quality. Indian tea satiates every consumer taste within the county and outside. No wonder India is the unquestioned leader in the world of tea.
The teas from different growing regions of India –Assam, Darjeeling, Dooars, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, U.P. – all have a distinct class. The main production of India is Black tea – both Orthodox and CTC. Green teas of different types are also manufactured in North as well as South India. In South India, teas are produced all through the year.. In North India tea production starts in late March and ends in early December, but the bulk of the Indian production comes form the North Eastern region.
Assam is the largest tea producing state in India. This region is sub-divided into the Brahmaputra Valley and the Surma Valley. Assam’s are famous for the full, gutty, bright and pungent/brick liquors with unusual ‘creaming down’ quality. The peak in quality is reached during the ‘second flush’. The Orthodox variety from the district has abundant bright, golden and chunky tip.
West Bengal offers tea from Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai. The DARJEELINGS are known as ‘The Champagne of Tea’. Cultivated on the slopes of the mighty Himalayas, the Darjeelings have unique, delicate flavour and character. No one has been able to match ‘the Darjeeling flavour’. The teas from DOOARS and TERAI are well made, neat in appearance and have strong brisk liquors. They are immensely popular in the internal market. The state of TRIPURA is also a traditional producer of Orthodox and CTC teas.
A small but quite different variety of tea comes from small growers of KANGRA Valley in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh. The valley ahs been famous for it’s speciality green teas. Recently, four co-operative factories have been established which mainly produce flavoury Orthodox teas. The first flush of this region is particularly noteworthy. DEHRA DUN in Uttar Pradesh contributes its own variety to Indian quality.
The ‘first flush’, the ‘second flush’ and autumnal teas from the North are indeed unique-each has its own distinctive taste. The special quality of these periods draws special attention of the connoisseurs.
The quality of South Indian teas has its own distinctive characteristics. The NILGIRIS are a gift from the ‘Blue Mountains’ and possess delicate flavour along with strength and brightness. In water from certain areas, they brew better than any other tea. The produce of HIGH RANGE has its own speciality. The CTC production from all the Southern states is turned to producing a large percentage of fine grades. The popularity of South Indian CTCs is attributed to good leaf appearance and strong, bright and brisk liquors. Amongst the fine variety of teas produced in India, the South Indians enjoy a palace of pride.
Tea is synonymous with India and India’s greatest agro-asset in Tea. Indian Tea’ two great strengths are in vast variety and superb quality. But the greatest strength of ‘the treasureland of tea’ is that it shares the joys of drinking Indian Ta with the rest of the world!
