Tea Board of India launches new logo for Assam Tea to mark 200 glorious year of Assam Tea Industry

Assam is the largest tea-producing region in the country, producing around 52% of the nation's total tea

Assam, which is known to produce some of the best-quality tea in the world, is observing year-long celebrations to mark the 200-year milestone of Assam’s tea industry. As part of the celebrations, the Tea Board of India today launched a new logo for Assam Tea.

On the occasion, small tea growers of the state were granted a 75 percent subsidy to purchase vehicles on the occasion. Cheques worth Rs 5 lakh 53 thousand 985 were distributed to 28 groups.

Furthermore, a 7-minute documentary on Assam tea industry’s 200-year-old journey was also screened on the occasion.

Check out the logo:

Assam is the largest tea-producing region in the country, producing around 52% of the nation’s total tea. Assam is famous for its Orthodox and CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) varieties of tea.

Historically, Assam has been the second commercial tea production region after southern China, the only two regions in the world with native tea plants.

Marking International Tea Day today, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “For 200 years, Assam ki ‘kadak chai’ has powered the day for crores of people across the world. On #InternationalTeaDay, we reiterate our commitment to our 70 lakh strong tea garden community and celebrate the bicentennial year of India’s national beverage in a grand manner.”

Assam annually produces nearly 700 million kg of tea, which accounts for half of India’s overall tea production. It also generates annual foreign exchange earnings of Rs. 3,000 crore.

Assam finance minister Ajanta Neog also took to her twitter account to celebrate the day and wrote, “Celebrating 200 years of Assam tea on the occasion of International Tea Day. Assam, India’s largest tea-producing region, produces around 52% of the nation’s total tea. Let us all take this day as an opportunity to honor every hardworking individual associated with the tea industry.”

History of Assam Tea

The history of Assam tea dates back to the year 1823, when a Scottish arms trader came to Assam on a trade expedition, where he was introduced to a plant with which the Singpho and Khamti people of Assam made beverages and food.

While trading in the region, Bruce found the plant growing “wild” in Assam.

That’s when Maniram Dewan introduced him to the local Singpho chief, Bessa Gam.

Bruce noticed the Singhpos brewing tea from the leaves of the bush and arranged with the local chiefs to provide him with samples of the leaves and seeds, which he planned to have scientifically examined.

However, Robert Bruce passed away without having witnessed the plant’s correct classification. It was not until the early 1830s that Robert’s brother, Charles, arranged for a few leaves from the Assam tea bush to be sent to the botanical gardens in Calcutta for proper examination.

There, the plant was finally identified as a variety of tea, or Camellia sinensis var. assamica, but different from the Chinese version (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).

The indigenous Assamese tea plant was first mentioned by a historian named Samuel Baidon, who published Tea in Assam in 1877.

Bruce noticed the Singhpos brewing tea from the leaves of the bush and arranged with the local chiefs to provide him with samples of the leaves and seeds, which he planned to have scientifically examined.

However, Robert Bruce passed away without having witnessed the plant’s correct classification. It was not until the early 1830s that Robert’s brother, Charles, arranged for a few leaves from the Assam tea bush to be sent to the botanical gardens in Calcutta for proper examination.

There, the plant was finally identified as a variety of tea, or Camellia sinensis var. assamica, but different from the Chinese version (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).

The indigenous Assam tea plant was first mentioned by a historian called Samuel Baidon, who published Tea in Assam in 1877.

Also Read: International Tea Day: Its significance and history

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