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An Ancient Legend
Legend ascribes the creation of the tea plant to 'Daruma' or
'Bodhidharma' - the founder of Zen Buddhism. Centuries ago, while
meditating near Nanking, in China, the saint fell sleep. On waking up, he
was so angry, he punished himself by cutting off his eyelids. Where the
eyelids dropped to earth a strange plant came up. Its leaves were found to
give a brew that could banish sleep. And thus, the tea plant was born and
the tea beverage came into being.
Three Claims To The Discovery Of Tea In India
During
the travels, Major Robert Bruce struck up friendship with Bessagaum, the
'Singpho' chief in Assam, who gave him some
indigenous tea plants and seeds in 1823. This incident is thought of as
the discovery of tea in India. But Robert's brother, Charles Bruce who was
working for the East India Company, regarded himself as "the man of
destiny who first penetrated the forests and visited the tea tracts in
British Sudiya". This claim he stoutly maintained. However, in 1841,
he was challenged by Lt. Charlton, who had been serving in Assam. Lt.
Charlton claimed that it was he who had first sent tea plants to the
agricultural & Horticultural society as long back as 1831.
The First Indian Planter
Dewan Maniram Dutta Borbhandar Barua, on seeing the specimen plant in
Robert Bruce's hands, remarked, "We have the plant growing in our
jungles. " He was later appointed by the Assam
tea company, which he left to run his own garden.
First Tea Company In The World
The world's first tea company - The Assam Company was formed on 12th
February 1839. Dwarakanath Tagore, grandfather of noble laureate
Rabindranath Tagore, was one of its directors.
First Exports
On board a sailing ship name 'Calcutta', a dozen precious chests of
India's very own tea sailed for Britain in 1838. This was the first such
sojourn, and the consignment arrived in London on 23rd January 1839.
The Board of Directors of the East India Company wrote to the Government
of India "We have received favourable reports regarding it from the
most respectable brokers and tea dealer and an offer is made of a contract
for five hundred or a thousand chests." This was the first export
contract in the history of Indian tea.
First Auction
On
10th January 1839, the first consignment of Indian tea from
Assam consisting of 8 chests was put for auction at
the commercial rooms in Mincing Lane. The lots were 3 of Assam
'Souchong' and 5 of Assam 'Pekoe'. For which there were 60 bids, was
knocked down at the extraordinary price of 34 shillings per pound and all
the lots were bought by one Captain Pidding.
The Strong And The Wild
Assam is a rich, green land of rolling plains and dense forests. Through
which the mighty river Brahmaputra
charts its majestic course. A region of innumerable forests and
sanctuaries, where elephants and
one-horned Rhinos roam sharing the habitat with swamp deer, wild buffaloes
and tigers.
On either side of the river, throughout the Brahmaputra valley, lie more
than 2,30,000 hectares of lush green tea gardens. This region has rich
alluvial soil and receives 200-300cm of rain throughout the year. Not only
in Brahmaputra valley tea
grows in abundance but in Barak valley also, in the southern region of
Assam. The total production of tea in Assam is
around 400 million kg. per annum.
Since long columns have been written on the experiments of tea and
culture. Tea is, now, no longer a haunting memory of the 19th century
British India, rather it has become one of the most lucrative enterprises
in the modern history. With the discovery of tea in Assam, India sets out
for a new economic era.
Assam and Tea, both are inseparable. Probably
except Assam, nowhere else in the world tea grows
in such abundance. It is one of the largest tea producing area in world
and produces more than 50% of India's total production. Assam hence,
contributes a handsome amount of foreign exchange to our national economy.
The capital city Guwahati is proud of having one of the largest Tea
Auction Centres in the world.
The Tea
Assam tea is renowned for its rich full-bodied, bright liquor. For those
who favour a strong cup of tea, Assam is the answer. One's visit to
Assam is an experience of a different kind during
the celebration of Assam's Tea Festival, from 26th to 28th December. It is
a home away from home. No one can bargain either its comfort or its
pleasure.