Tea

Topic: Agriculture

Why in the news?

• Small tea growers are planning an indefinite agitation if Nepal Tea continues to come to India to be mixed with Darjeeling and other variants.
• Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association president said the Tea Board had issued an order for the last plucking date in Bengal on Nov 30 to control the oversupply situation as well as to prevent poor quality tea production.

Source: The Times of India

About Tea:

• It is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water.
• India was the second-largest producer of tea after China, and the largest consumer of said beverage, using nearly 30% of the world’s tea output.
• Tea is a tropical and sub-tropical plant and grows well in hot and humid climates.
• The ideal temperature for its growth is 20°-30°C and temperatures above 35°C and below 10°C are harmful for the bush.
• It requires 150-300 cm annual rainfall which should be well distributed throughout the year.
• The most suitable soil for tea cultivation is slightly acidic soil (without calcium) with porous sub-soil which permits a free percolation of water.
• The main tea-growing regions are in the Northeast (including Assam) and in north Bengal (Darjeeling district and the Dooars region). Tea is also grown on a large scale in the Nilgiris in south India.
• Benefits:
  • Antioxidants in tea help prevent oxidative damage to the body and act as reactive oxygen species (ROS) to repair damages caused by free radicals. They also enhance immune defense, lowering the risk of cancer and infection.