I grew up in Uttarakhand during my childhood and teenage years, but I had no idea about Uttarakhand tea. After nearly 40 years, when I visited Kausani and Nainital, I noticed fields that looked like tea gardens. This piqued my interest, so I asked my taxi driver to take me to the tea gardens of Uttarakhand. He brought me to the Ghorakhal tea garden, where I explored the fields and the processing plant thoroughly. I also want to thank the plant manager for helping me with more information and providing a brochure.
In 1835 bushes arrived from Kolkata to Uttarakhand. These were imported from China. Planting of these was done in Lakhmaneshwar near Almora and also near Bhimtal, 20 KM from Nainital. So it was British who brought tea to Uttarakhand about 180 years ago. In 1837-38, the first production was done, and the quality was appreciated by the Calcutta Chambers of Commerce.
By 1880, about eleven thousand acres of land and 63 big and small gardens were developed, which also generated employment for about 5000 people.
But in 1942, after the onset of the Quit India movement, the gardens were neglected and production was reduced. The problems faced were export, transportation, labor, and lack of tea processing plants, and therefore by 1949 it reached a minimal level.
In 1994-95 again, re-establishment was initiated under an employment scheme called the Uttarakhand Tea Development Project.
In 1995-96 hybrid Chinese tea plants were planted in the Kausani region. By 2001 about 110 hectares of tea gardens were developed, and in 2002-03, tea processing plants were erected, and production started under the name of Uttarakhand Tea. The tea was sold locally as well as in the Kolkata Auction House. Flavor and quality were compared to Darjeeling tea. This tea is being exported to South Korea, the USA, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Organic tea is being produced in Ghorakhal (20 km from Nainital),and Champawat by the Uttarakhand Tea Development Board.
Benefits of Tea
An old Chinese saying goes, “Better to go without food for three days than to miss tea for just one day.” Healers are convinced that tea can extend your life. Tea contains various chemical compounds like polysaccharides, volatile oils, vitamins, minerals, purines, alkaloids (like caffeine), and polyphenols (such as catechins and flavonoids).
The advantages of polyphenols include their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Catechins have antiseptic, antioxidant, and detoxifying effects on the body.
Every type of tea is a source of vitamin C. Research shows that drinking 12 cups of tea gives you as much vitamin C as three oranges.
Medicinal benefits of Tea
- Digestive complaints : Treats infectious dysentery and eases inflammatory bowels.
- Infection: Antiseptic properties due to tannins and flavonoids
- Guards against tooth decay : particularly green tea is rich in fluorides and so reduces severity in cavities.
- Immunity booster : Due to vitamin C and minerals
- Prevention of cancer : Drinking 10 cups of tea, especially green tea, decreases the risk of breast cancer, blood cancer, prostate cancer, and stomach cancer. Reduces risk of skin cancer due to antioxidants (National Cancer Institute).
- Cardiovascular diseases : Reduces artery diseases due to antioxidants and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, and stroke in men.
- Black tea reduces stress.
- Contributes to daily fluid intake
These benefits are as given in the brochure. I guess it may be more relevant to Uttarakhand organic tea.
Reference
The official site of the Uttarakhand Tea Development Board is www.utdb.uk.gov.in. All this information is based on the brochure the tea plant provided me. This brochure seems to be a pretty old publication.
Epilogue
The tea here was brought by the British and later encouraged by the state government to generate employment. Not well known to me, at least not yet, it was pleasant to know Uttarakhand tea. To me it seems the volume still needs to be increased along with publicity.
