India is the largest producer of tea accounting for as much as 31% of world production. India is also the largest consumer of tea and 75% of total production is consumed domestically. The Indian tea Industry goes back over 150 years and produces both Orthodox as well as CTC Tea. The main growing regions of India are Darjeeling, Assam and the Nilgiris.
Nestled in the foothills of the snow covered Himalayan Range, the Darjeeling district grows exclusive tea at an altitude ranging from 600 to 2000 meters. Sheltered by the mighty Kanchanjunga peak, lie about 20,000 hectares of bushes producing teas unequalled anywhere in the world for their delicate flavour, rich aroma and exquisite bouquet.
The combination of a cool and moist climate, the soil, the rainfall and the sloping terrain, not found anywhere else in the world all combine to give Darjeeling its unique “Muscatel” flavour and exquisite bouquet. Hence this finest and most delicately flavoured of all teas has over the years acquired the reputation of being the “Champagne of Teas”. Like all precious things, these teas are available in very limited quantities. Naturally, these are the teas that are in great demand all over the world and thus fetch the highest prices.
To the far North east of India is the state of ASSAM, the land of the one horned Rhino and the land through which the mighty river, the Brahmaputra winds its majestic course.
On both sides of the mighty Brahmaputra River, lie the rolling plains of the world’s largest tea growing areas with the highest per acre yield and the strong pungent, full bodied liquor that has made Assam tea famous all over the world. Assam is the birthplace of India tea. More than 165 years ago, in 1823, Robert Bruce discovered the plant growing wild in the region. In 1839, the first 8 chests of India tea that found their way to the London auctions came from Assam.
The cropping season begins as early as March and extends almost to mid-December. March ushers in the plucking season. The dormant bushes come to life and the first leaves of the new season start sprouting. The plucking of this first flush goes on for two to two and a half months. June starts off the season for the eagerly awaited second flush teas. July to September brings the heavy rains. Nature wears a fresh green look and everything grows at a tremendous rate, even the tea bushes. This accounts for the fact that about 65% of Assam tea is produced during this season. Gradually, as the climate becomes colder and less wet, the autumnal make an appearance. With December, the bustle of activity peters out and the dormant period sets in. Assam teas offer rich, full bodied, bright liquor. For those who favour a bright, strong cup of tea, Assam is the answer.
Blue mountains or the Nilgiris are situated in South India, a picturesque range of undulating hilly landscapes where tea is grown at elevations ranging from 1000 meters to above 2500 meters. Nilgiri teas are relatively mild teas with a mellow, light and clean liquor and grow all the year round unlike the seasonal Assam and Darjeeling’s.
The Nilgiris soils are red and yellow loam and are lateritic in origin. Most tea plantations get two monsoons owing to which the tea bushes in South India ‘flush’ all the year round. Therefore the cropping season continues all the year round. Fine flavoury teas are produced in the Nilgiris. Stylish leaf throwing very bright, brisk, quality liquors with strength and pronounced flavour; cup-character is the dominant features of these teas. Flavour is derived from the high elevation and prevails throughout the year in varying degrees.
To ensure that the consumer gets their “Pure Darjeeling”, “Pure Nilgiri Teas”, the Tea Board has created a logo for each of the types of teas which can be used on a packet only when it contains 100% Darjeeling, Assam or Nilgiri Teas. So the next time you buy a packet of Tea with the Darjeeling logo, rest assured that the packet contains 100% Darjeeling tea
