Tea gardens in India

Tea is a plant that is consumed on a daily basis in India. India in Asia is one of the largest producers and most of the produce is consumed locally and the rest is exported. Since tea is one of the products that are consumed throughout India, the different tea companies are trying to expand their base.

Many tea companies that India own large numbers of tea gardens and its predominance is seen in states like Assam, west Bengal, Karnataka, all north eastern states, states have tropical conditions and hill slopes. The hilly areas in the country are being utilized to a great extent by cutting terraces on them and using them for  cultivation. The owners of the major tea processing companies in India are acquiring more and more land. All the hilly areas that were once abandoned are now being converted into tea gardens in the country.

Tea garden owning in India are also responsible for the increase in employment in the private sector. With the increase in the number of tea gardens, the labor required also increases and hence employment and income both is generated.

The tea garden owning industries have to be very careful with the location of the gardens. Owning a tea garden a proper place matters. The climatic factor is the most essential factor when it comes to plantation of tea. Then comes the soil. The tea gardens are established  on the hill slopes. Since the land is inclined there is no water logging when the  plantation is done.

Tea companies that do not own gardens keep buying raw leaves from other estates. The processing time is very little since the leaf might lose its essence and flavor hence timely procurement is important. Many companies own large tea gardens some are working towards acquiring more of them. With this the prediction of tea production to rise steadily is definitely going to come true in the near future.

Most of the tea estates are established in the Indian State of Assam, Darjeeling Hills in West Bengal and the Nilgiris in the South. Tea estate companies do not necessarily own major brands many are just processors and suppliers of the leaf.   

Major tea producing centers have become destinations for tourism. There are many tour companies organizing tours to tea estates. This is a unique experience of local culture with insight into cultivation, processing amd packaging of tea. The salubrious climate and picturesque settings are instrumental in attracting many inbound tourists. 

Major tea processing companies in the world.

Tea is a shrub that is grown in areas with high humidity i.e. tropical or sub tropical areas, which are found all over the world. Teas whether green, blue, black, yellow, blue or white all the types find their origin in that one plant called Camellia Sinensis.

That one recreational drink that the whole world consumes is the hot beverage tea. The production and consumption is what is found throughout the world. And it wasn’t today that tea was found to be a drink that nearly the whole world consumes now the habit dates back to centuries. This is coming down the line from ages in the Oriental Realm. Since tea is such a good beverage, it is obvious that the market is expanded worldwide and has without any doubt increased over the years.

In today’s date, tea is grown in Asia and Africa on nearly 2.5 million hectares of land. China and India by far are the largest producers of tea, and most of the produce is consumed locally. Kenya this year was the largest exporter of tea. And all these continents and countries are said to have the best processing units. According to a website, all over the world, there are 7 large and successful corporations that dominate 90% of the global market.

As mentioned above the sector is actually dominated by a few major companies all over the world, and the international trade in this commodity follows a pattern. It lets the highest bidder in the International fair trade buy the choice product.

Tea cultivation depends on a number of factors and is the main base that determines that existence of the processing industry. It requires division of labor, proper climate and soil. Therefore Internationally there are some standards that the processing and packaging companies in the world have to follow. They are known as ‘standards for tea plantations’.

They are as follows-
1)    When working in a plantation estate of a company workers health and safety is a must.
2)    Child labor or forced labor is prohibited
3)    Workers have the rights to form unions and place their reasonable demands when required.
4)    The salaries should follow the rule of minimum wage effect.

Over the years the tea production has grown, and the major companies see that in near future this will grow even more. And hence all of them are working towards expanding their horizons and working towards acquiring more and more land so that the production from their company is the largest.

Even according to the stock market, it is predicted, that the tea production, consumption and processing will increase. This will happen if money in the hand of the common man increases so that he is willing to spend a greater amount on his health than what he currently spends.

The major tea processing companies in the world are continuously working towards acquiring the status of being the largest producers of the leaf. But this race continues as amongst the 7 companies, each is better than the other, and is continuously striving to be better, day by day.

Some of the Tea Majors are:


Lipton

Wagh Bakri

Tata Tetley

Dilmah

Twining Teas

Unilever

Kenya Tea Packers

The above companies are global while there are  many local concern nevertheless giants in their own rights.

The significance of flavor additives in tea blends

Tea is said to be the world’s oldest among the popular beverages since a long period of time. People have been drinking tea since many centuries in Asian countries. Recently they have also realized the fact that the tea can also be made better by adding various kinds of flavors and spices to it. This imagination been made to come true by the regular drinkers. Nowadays tea is available in every possible flavor from far and wide.

The best way of adding the fragrance to make tea more delicious is by adding various herbs and essential oils which are edible aromatic compounds. The Masala Chai or Spiced tea  is getting popular among the customers all over the world thanks to unique aroma and taste. .

Deep knowledge of flavors

Understanding flavoring materials, spices and herbs is essential for creating spicy blends. Though this is the task of the experts amateurs can also create magical blends.  For gaining information on flavored tea people must first get to know the information about the processing of the leaf at estates and plants. As the matter of the fact the processing plays a very important role in the production of the various kinds of leaves. This kind of the processing consists of various steps. The tea companies do not make any kind of the compromise with the quality. In the gardens they only choose the topmost buds and the leaves from the plants. All of the plucked leaves are taken to wither and then crushed for twenty four hours. The withered leaves are crushed in between the metal rollers. The additives are added to the blend for increasing the flavor, taste and aroma.

Different flavored tea

The idea of the flavored tea started in China. This place has been the birthplace of the flavored tea drinking. Since ages different types of flavors are in use creating a wide varieties of blends. Some of the notable varieties are masala chai, herb flavored blends and those containing essential oils.  The leaf is fermented during the process and is exposed to various degree of sunshine.

After the plucking of the leaves they are fermented in order to accord a strong flavor and bigger size. The black tea itself possesses the strong and heavy flavor this is quite evident whence we consume strong teas available in the market. Hence flavoring black teas is a greater challenge than the lighter versions like green and Oolong leaf. Some plants are cultivated in the vicinity of plums and cinnamon trees. This accords a distinct flavor to the leaves which is preferred by the connoisseurs.

Spices in packet tea give a kick start

From a long period of time tea has been used as a beverage and medicinal product in all over South Asia. The British introduced the tea into their  colonies and the inhabitants started loving it. The tea can be said as the most commonly found and the oldest beverages in the world.

In South Asia especially India and China the spice tea or chai tea has become very popular. The masala tea or the masala chai  varies in the taste from place to place. It has been universally accepted and the usage and popularity is increasing day by day. The tea companies are promoting spice tea to people all over the world. They are getting to know the real taste of the masala tea because of awareness.

Best quality and taste

The Spices in packet tea can provide the latest and the best in the longer tradition of the brilliance in the quality and the taste. The Spice Chai and the masala Tea has reached to a lot of people living in the subcontinent and the whole of Asian countries. Slowly and slowly the Spices in the packet tea is developing into a huge hit among all of the countries and it is being spreading fast. The tea shops and the coffee bar centers are also adopting the spices tea and are offering the wonderful experience of the tea beverage to the potential customers who can consume it at homes or any other places.

Flavorful tea

Various spices such as the elaichi, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon are being mixed in tea. Many companies producing the spicy tea are blending the best mix of traditional flavors with the new flavors. The spic tea has a powerful punch and rich flavor as compared to coffee.

The flavorful tea must be kept in packaging using flexible materials. The plastic packing as well as laminated cartons are perfect for storage with increased self life. These are also water proof, grease proof and vapor proof materials. Therefore these are  used in various industrial sectors like the pharmacy industry, tea  and the spice industry.  The  and herbs also make popular tea flavors along with traditional cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.