Tea as a beverage is all about refreshment and aroma. Tea stands next to the water when we talk about the drinks that are consumed around the world. The scientific name of Tea is Camellia sinensis. People in general mostly know about either black tea or green tea. However, there are many other varieties of tea such as Oolong, Pu-erh, whites, etc. among others. The astonishing fact is that every variety and a blend of tea originates from the same plant.
When we talk about tea, I don’t think that there is any tea lover out there in the world, who hasn’t come across “Assam Tea”. There might arise a case where the user might not know that the tea is from Assam, as he or she does not perceive the taste or the packaging which mentions it as black tea only. Talking about black tea, Assam tea can be considered as the base ingredient that creates the strong blend that tea enthusiasts love.
History of Assam tea
Assam tea is famous all around the world because of its richness, robust flavor, and strong aroma. It is produced in the state of Assam, located in the north-eastern region of India. Assam is considered the largest tea-producing state in India, which contributes to more than 50% of the total country’s production.
The tea-producing land in Assam covers more than 300 thousand hectares in total. Now try imagining the same in your head and you will see entire gardens covered under lush tea bushes.
The history of Assam tea goes back to around 200 years into the past. When the Britishers planted their tea in India, they had no idea that Assam will transform itself into this enormous tea-producing state.
The Britishers bought their tea from China in order to grow the same in India, however, they later discovered that the wild plant is already growing in the region and had a great future in terms of marketability into the outside world. The reason behind this growth in Assam is its climate. The tropical monsoon climate provides the best possible environment for tea plantations.
Assam Tea Facts
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One out of every six people in Assam is engaged in the tea fields. This creates a large pool of people that lives in the tea production industry.
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India is the second-largest exporter of tea in the world and exports to many parts of the world such as the United States, Russia, and many others.
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Assam is the place where one can find the native tea bush, Camellia sinensis var. Assamica
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Assam’s climate is the best climate for tea plantation and in total Assam has more than 300 thousand hectares currently for tea cultivation in the region.
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Assam tea tends to be the main ingredient for most of the tea blends available around the world.
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The production value of tea in Assam accounts for more than 500 million kilos every year, however, only 10% is consumed inside the country and the rest is exported around the world.
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Assam tea comprises 3 major components that bolster its uniqueness namely essential oils, polyphenols, and caffeine.
A world without Assam tea is unimaginable as this will lead to mass unemployment for the people of Assam and also the tea enthusiasts of the world will lose the opportunity to relish the robust flavor and one of the best black teas available in the market in the current times.
Also, read about the top 10 plantations in India that bring your cup of chai.
