Origins of Tea
Origins of Tea
Origins of Tea
TEA ORIGINATED IN SOUTHWEST CHINA, WHERE IT WAS USED AS A MEDICINAL DRINK. IT WAS POPULARIZED AS A RECREATIONAL DRINK DURING THE CHINESE TANG DYNASTY, AND TEA DRINKING SPREAD TO OTHER EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES. PORTUGUESE PRIESTS AND MERCHANTS INTRODUCED IT TO EUROPE DURING THE 16TH CENTURY.DURING THE 17TH CENTURY, DRINKING TEA BECAME FASHIONABLE AMONG BRITONS, WHO STARTED LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE PLANT IN INDIA TO BYPASS THE CHINESE MONOPOLY. COMBINED, CHINA AND INDIA SUPPLIED 62% OF THE WORLD’S TEA IN 2016.
HISTORY & ORIGIN OF TEA IN INDIA
India is the world’s largest consumer of tea in the world – and the second largest producer of tea – including the world’s most popular tea varieties – like Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kangra, Munnar and Dooars Terai tea. However, the growth of tea as an industry in India has been relatively recent.
WHEN DID TEA COME TO INDIA?
Historical records indicate the prevalence of tea drinking in India since 750 BC. In the 16th century, a vegetable dish was also being prepared using tea leaves with garlic and oil. However, the credit for rediscovering tea and cultivating it at a commercial level goes to the British.
Tea Cultivation was commercialized by the British in India
Commercial tea cultivation in India was driven by British who consumed tea in enormous quantities, which they bought from China. By 1750, they were purchasing millions of pounds of tea every year from China. Even though the British managed to counterbalance it with opium trade to some extent, they found that their tea consumption was exorbitantly expensive and unsustainable.
HISTORY & ORIGIN OF ASSAM TEA
Initially, the British felt that the Assam tea plant was inferior. But later they realized that the Chinese variety was unable to survive the hot weather conditions in Assam. Eventually, they decided to go ahead with the Assamese plant.
By 1838, the first consignment of 12 chests of Assam tea had reached London. Subsequently (in February 1839) the Assam Company – the first joint stock tea company – was formed in London. This was followed by the setting up of other companies like George Williamson and Jorehaut Tea Company.
HISTORY & ORIGIN OF DARJEELING TEA
Darjeeling was transferred to the East India Company in 1835, and the Chinese tea variant was deemed suitable for the region in 1841.
- Dr. A Campbell was the first person to plant Chinese seeds in Darjeeling that he had brought from Kumaon .
- Commercial tea plantations in Darjeeling started in the 1850s – and 113 plantations were set up by 1874, covering 18,888 acres and accounting for a production of 3.9 million pounds.
