Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. The mention of this word brings comfort and warmth to one’s heart. But do you know which place is known as the Tea Garden of India? Well, it’s Assam. With a backdrop of the Himalayas, the green paddy fields, and the majestic Brahmaputra river running through, Assam’s natural landscape is spellbinding. And yes, it is rightly famous for its splendid teas.
In this blog, we understand how tea cultivation is an inherent part of Assam’s social structure, the beginnings of the tea industry, the climatic requirements, and how tea has put India on the global map.
Assam-The Tea Garden of India
Tea is more than a product for India, it is part of our culture, lifestyle, and a common language, which has been nurtured over the centuries. It is also a prominent sector of employment for thousands of people in tea-growing states.
In fact, tea is one industry that is women-intensive. There are more women employed in this sector owing to their natural ability to be nimble and skillful at plucking tea leaves. Approximately, 17% of the total population in Assam is also employed in the tea industry.
Renowned globally for its rich and aromatic tea, Assam is the largest tea region in the country, with some of the best estates. Assam tea accounts for 55% of India’s total tea production and 80% of the country’s exports.
Assam Tea-Integral To India’s Colonial Past
The erstwhile British empire had a deep-rooted connection with the origins of India’s tea industry. In 1823, Robert Bruce, a Scottish native living in Assam, observed tea plants growing in the area around the Brahmaputra Valley. He decided to utilize the plants for tea production in the region. He was accompanied by Maniram Dutta Baruah, an Assamese nobleman, who was instrumental in the initiation of the tea industry.
Bruce’s discovery marked the beginnings of the tea establishment in India and the first tea estate was set up in 1833 in the Lakhimpur district. Cut to the present day, Assam’s most prominent USP to date is its distinct and superior tea offerings. This region produces approximately 700 million kilograms of tea every year and approximately 11.7% of the global tea production.
Favorable Conditions for Tea Cultivation
Assam’s unique geography and climate make it suitable for growing tea. Most of the tea growing area is on the periphery of the Brahmaputra river and the harvesting is done from March to November. The plants are grown at a low altitude, just 45-60 meters above sea level, which adds to the unique features.
The presence of rich brownish-yellow or reddish-yellowish soil makes the area
conducive for tea production. Furthermore, the state has a humid climate with
daily rainfall in the monsoon season.
Owing to the humid and tropical weather conditions, Assamese tea acquires its bold, full-bodied flavor and dark brown color. The region is famous for producing both, orthodox whole-leaf tea and CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) pellet teas, which are known for their bold taste.
Assam’s climatic conditions, fertile soil, and traditional processing methods ensure that Assamese-origin tea stays prominent, among the best.
Tea Cultivation Today
Today, Assam houses the world’s largest tea research center, The Tocklai Tea Research Institute (earlier called the Tocklai Experimental Station) in Jorhat. It was established in 1911 for the purpose of research and development of Indian tea and its practices.
The research being carried out here has helped maintain high-quality standards of Assam tea, ensuring its popularity.
Assam has over 800 large and 60,000 small tea estates in the state. Some of the prominent tea estates are in the areas of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, followed by Jorhat and Shivsagar.
Let us review some of the top tea estates that are counted as the pride of Assam.
Top Tea Estates of Assam
Assam’s true wealth is its tea estates, some of which have been there for decades. Though difficult to narrow down, here are some of the highly renowned estates.
Halmari
This is one of the heritage tea creators of Assam and their estate is located in Dibrugarh. The tea production area is 283 hectares. Halmari tea has a distinct taste and it has a huge following not only in India but overseas. Their superior quality can be attributed to the freshest leaves used in manufacturing. Each stage of production is closely supervised by their team of tea specialists and advisors. Halmari tea is available in several varieties, online.
Manohari Tea Estate
With a 230-hectare area under tea production, Manohari is one the known tea producers in Nogaghuli, Assam. The annual production is 1 million kg.
Margherita
This is located in the Tinsukia area and has 342 hectares of land under tea production and employs 1400 people.
Dikom Tea
Known as one of the older brands in Dikom district, Assam, it has approximately 1400 employees and 456 hectares of land dedicated to tea.
Majuli Estate
Located in the Uttar Khairabari area, Majuli is renowned for its varieties and has an annual production of 1.3 million kg.
Hathikuli Tea
Hathikuli is located in the Golaghat district in Assam and is known for its good tea qualities. The tea production area is 265 hectares and it employs 1000 people on the estate.
Bokahola
This is also one of the renowned tea estates in Assam, with a production of 1.5 million kg on an area of 380 hectares.
Nahorhabi Estate
Nahorhabi is one of the oldest estates located in Lakwa, in Assam. It employs 1500 people for tea production and has an area of 420 hectares.
Koomsong
This estate is renowned for its scenic location and has 270 hectares of land in production.
Dhoolie
Dhoolie tea estate is located in Titabar and has a 370 hectares area for tea production. The teas are known for their bold flavors.
Mangalam Tea
Mangalam has maintained good quality tea through the years and has a total production of approximately 1.3 million kg.
Though Assam is famous for its black tea, its mellow green and white teas have a distinct aroma of their own.
Conclusion
Assam is indeed the tea garden of India and has a number of beautiful tea estates. As a century-old tradition, Assam even has its own time, called the Tea Garden Time or, the Sah Bagan Time, which is an hour ahead of the Indian standard time. Tea is a social language, a rich legacy interwoven in India’s culture and it is because of Assam, that India is globally respected for its tea legacy and excellence. Whether you’re an occasional tea drinker or an aficionado, Halmari Assam tea offers a truly special cuppa with a rich, deeply layered flavor. Do try fine teas from Halmari for a delightful experience.