FROM THE GARDEN TO YOUR CUP
Most of us start our days with a hot cup of tea.
This beverage is an inherently important part of our lives, especially if you're from India.
But how much do we truly know about the story of how these leaves make their way from a tea estate into our kitchen cabinets? Let's explore the journey of a cup of tea.
1. The Cycle
2. Growing in Tea plantations
All traditional teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between green and black teas is the result of processing! Tea is a shrub that grows to over 30 feet tall. However, most tea gardens keep them trimmed to a height of 4 – 6 feet. The tea plant has thick leaves that are dark green in color, and a strong, thick stem. Tea flowers bloom in white or pink and have a delicate fragrance. In India Tea is mainly grown in huge tea estates and plantations in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
3. The Plucking Process
Women usually handpick tea leaves and ‘flushes’ of tea – that is, a terminal main but, with two baby young leaves attached – from the Camellia Sinesis bushes typically twice a year during early spring and early summer or late spring.
4. Weighing the Teas
It is reported that some tea pickers pluck at least 20 kilograms of tea leaves per day. This way they can analyze the yield and growth rate of the tea, and also evaluate how much they can potentially sell.