From the Plantation to the Cup gives a one shot glimpse of this fascinating industry.

1. Tea From the Plantation to the Cup

6. ASSAM TEA: The Strong One Assam – to the far North-East of India – the land of the one-horned rhino, the land of the mighty Brahmaputra river …on both sides of which lie the rolling plains, the single largest area under tea cultivation in the world. Alongside Assam’s verdant tea bushes lie one of India’s richest game reserves. Amidst these exciting surroundings is grown ASSAM tea known for its strong, bright and full-bodied liquor. It is favoured the world over by those who love their cup strong. Assam is the birthplace of Indian Tea. In 1823, Robert Bruce discovered the plant growing wild in the region. ASSAM tea was India’s first offering to the world. And predictably it look the world by strom. The rich alluvial soil along the banks of the river Brahmaputra and suitable climatic conditions lend themselves ideally to tea cultivation. The tea plants are predominantly of the ‘Assam Indigenous’, ‘Assam Hybrid’. At present clonal propagation is widely practiced to ensure excellent standards of tea from this region. March ushers in hectic plucking season. The first flush is followed by the second flush in April & May. Tippy ASSAM tea of the first and second flush have a characteristic flavour and strong liquor. July to September is the time of the heavy rains. About 75% of the ASSAM tea is produced in this season. Gradually as the climate becomes cooler and drier, the‘Autumnals’ make their appearance which are very similar to the second flush in quality. With December dormant period sets in.

8. Tea Regions

13. LET US NOW ENTER THE TEA GARDEN

16. It is then brought by garden workers to a factory which is most often inside the garden. A garden factory is under the over all supervision of the Garden Manager who is the highest authority for all matters.

17. GLIMPSES OF A GARDEN FACTORY

18. The leaves are left to dry in the huge open ceilings and through the roof chutes they are poured into the rolling table to be crushed and refined. It is very important to ensure time and the season of plucking.

19. INSIDE THE FACTORY: IT UNDERGOES SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROCESSES INVOLVING EXPERIENCED HUMAN HANDS

20. IT IS DRIED AND SORTED AND THEN RE SORTED BEFORE IT IS READY FOR PACKAGING

21. WE WILL NOW TASTE THE TEA AND CHECK ON QUALITY

22. SPECIALITY TEAS

23. IT IS NOW READY FOR PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTION

24. ANY QUESTIONS??