The British Role in Indian Tea: A Historical Journey
The story of Indian tea is inextricably linked with British colonialism. This blog explores how the British East India Company's influence shaped India's tea industry, transforming the country into one of the world's largest tea producers and exporters.
Even before Britain’s fall out with China over tea banks and acknowledged botanist in 1788 had suggested that the climate in Assam region of India was good for growing tea. The board of directors of the East India company did not show any interest in the matter, however, it was only after the opium war that the necessity of encouraging the production of tea elsewhere in the Empire arose.
China stopped the supply to British because of the exchange and Batter with the illicit opium grown in India was getting the Chinese addicted.
Thus began the search for TEA by the British Empire through the East India company.
Meanwhile, the plant had always existed in India in the jungles officer. It is hard to imagine that now neatly pruned tea, Bush was a vicarious wild tree that grew to a height of 600 to 700 cm.
It was in 1823, that Robert Bruce Scottish tradesman first met the chief of the shingpo tribe Bisa Gaum.
However, Robert Bruce died, however, this research was continued by his brother captain Charles Alexander, finally, in the year 1833, special Tea committee was set up. The began a serious expedition into the shingpo territory on elephants by geologist and botanist in 1835. These leaves that found were declared to be indigenous to ASSAM and tea plants.
However, the secretary of the committee G.J.Company thought that the Chinese seed was still superior and he was sent to collect 80,000 Chinese seats to replant in India. These seats got planted in botanical gardens of Calcutta, some in Assam in the hills of Darjeeling and down to the Madras presidency.
None of the plants survived in Calcutta nor did they survive in Assam or in the Southern region.
While the expedition to smuggle in the Chinese tea, plants was being carried on the Assam variant of the Camillia sinensis was proving to be stronger as each day passed.
Charles Bruce, however, however, is given very little credit for finding this indigenous Indian variant.
Very soon, 46 chest of Teas were sent to the tea committee in London about the Calcutta in 1837. However, only eat teachers survived and got loaded of the dogs. The court of directors of the East India company, besides the famous Techno like W.J.Thompson, Richard Twining, Richard Gibbs, Sanderson , Frys Fox, And Company, inspected and approved the tea.
This gave rise to the the ASSAM company and setting up of the tea gardens.
In 1839, through a deed of British Parliament, the world’s first ever tea company, the ASSAM company came to being.
Simultaneously, another company called as the Bengal tea association was formed in Calcutta, consisting of various members. One of them being the grandfather of poet and Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Soon the two companies merged with the first joint company which shareholder in London as well as Calcutta.
Thus began the journey of setting up the tea gardens of Assam, which was a challenge for the brave hearted from tigers to leopards to life, threatening diseases like malaria, cholera, and dysentery, what to be faced while setting up of these tea jungles into tea garden from a time when river services were the only means of transportation to the present day when the journey can be done in a matter of ours by air, extreme north Eastern pioneering region of tea in India has seen it all.
Even today the shingpo continued to grow tea in their village homes as a tradition and make Blue of smoke tea leaves apart from using them in their cooking.
From ASSAM to Darjeeling
By 1852, the East India company grew too desperate to break the Chinese monopoly over tea, that Robert Fortune Scottish botanist and traveller who spoke fluent. Chinese was enlisted to penetrate the secret Gardens of China from where he managed to obtain 20,000 plans of the best, black and green tea for plantations in Darjeeling, within a decade over 100 tea gardens of flourishing in the Darjeeling district. Some like the Darjeeling consolidated tea company was established in 1896 had huge operations.
It was soon realised that the tea plantations could be extended to the himalayan foothills as well.
After successfully growing tea in Assam and Darjeeling, the other areas of India started getting exploited For Tea, including Dooars and Terai also the Kangra Valley region and also sudden parts of India
The British by now had successfully grown teas in the Nilgiri Hills as well. India was officially a growing country. Thanks to the colonial Empire of the British Raj.
Since then, The Tea board of India Along with the TRA and many other such boards have been created for protecting the Indian tea, plantations and ethical committees for sustainable and fair trade practises for the tea planters and the tea labourers.
Today, india as per 2024 statistics accounts for 23% of the global tea trade in the world and produces 900,000 metric tonnes of tea.
Establishing Tea Plantations in India
Following Bruce's discovery, the British began establishing tea plantations in Assam and other regions of India. The first commercial tea garden was set up in 1837.
Important developments:
- First tea garden in 1837
- Expansion to Darjeeling and Nilgiri regions
- Introduction of Chinese tea cultivation methods
The Role of Labor in Indian Tea Production
The rapid expansion of tea plantations in India led to a significant demand for labor. The British implemented various strategies to meet this need, often with controversial consequences.
Key aspects:
- Indentured labor system
- Migration from other parts of India
- Working conditions on plantations
British Influence on Tea Processing and Marketing
The British not only established tea plantations but also introduced new processing techniques and marketing strategies that would shape the global tea trade.
Notable contributions:
- Introduction of CTC (Cut, Tear, Curl) processing
- Development of tea blends
- Establishment of tea auctions
The Legacy of British-Indian Tea
The British role in Indian tea has left a lasting impact on both the country and the global tea industry. Today, India remains one of the world's largest tea producers and exporters.
Enduring influences:
- India's position in the global tea market
- Continued importance of regions like Assam and Darjeeling
- Evolution of tea culture in India and Britain
Conclusion: A Complex Heritage
The British role in Indian tea is a complex story of colonialism, commerce, and cultural exchange. While the methods and motivations behind the establishment of India's tea industry are often controversial, the legacy of this period continues to shape the global tea landscape.
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