The unveiling of the native tea plant in 1815 conferred a significant advantage upon English trade in British-colonized India. However, the English encountered challenges arising from conflicts between China and India, as well as competition in shipping and trade with the Dutch, making the sustenance of a flourishing tea trade increasingly challenging. In the quest for suitable lands for tea plantations, Robert Bruce initiated an expedition to Assam in 1823.
In the course of his trading mission in 1823, Scottish adventurer and botanist Robert Bruce authenticated the discovery of India's indigenous tea plant. Under the guidance of Maniram Dewan, who directed him to Bessa Gam, the local Singpho chief, Bruce witnessed the indigenous Singpho tribe crafting a beverage from the leaves of wild tea-like plants. Maniram Dewan, the pioneer of tea planting in Assam, played a pivotal role in this discovery. Convinced that he had found an alternative to China's tea monopoly, Bruce negotiated with the Singpho chief to obtain samples of tea leaves with seeds for scientific examination. Despite Bruce's passing shortly after dispatching the samples for testing, his brother Charles carried on with the research.
Assuming responsibility for exploring wild Assam tea plants, Charles Bruce discovered that local tribes had been using tea for centuries as both food and beverage. By the early 1830s, Charles Bruce dispatched tea leaves to a botanical garden in Calcutta for a comprehensive examination, officially classifying the plant as Camellia sinensis var. Assamica. Bruce's efforts led to an understanding of how these plants could be propagated and cultivated, laying the foundation for the establishment of a British-dominated tea industry in India by the 1830s.
In 1834, Governor-General Lord Bentick established the Tea Committee, designating Assam as an ideal location for tea cultivation. The initial shipment of tea from Assam, crafted by the Singphos of Arunachal, was dispatched from Calcutta to London in 1835. Charles Bruce, appointed as the superintendent of the tea forests of the government of Great Britain, established a nursery in Sadiya, Assam, in 1836, initiating the cultivation of indigenous tea seed plants.
The inception of the Assam Tea Company in 1839 marked the commencement of the tea industry's expansion, steadily growing to over 160 gardens by 1862, owned by both public and private entities. Assam, acknowledged as the first Indian tea region globally, attained this status through the estate model developed by the British.
Tea Discovery in Assam
A beverage is a liquid designed for consumption, often crafted to have a pleasing flavor, such as an alcoholic drink. History, in contrast, is a systematic record of events, particularly those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, usually with an analysis of their causes. Thus, the history of beverages entails a detailed and organized account of the evolution of various drinks over time.
Monday, January 22, 2024
Top articles all the time
-
Mountain dew history Mountain Dew is a caffeinated, sweet, citrus-flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo, Inc. The formula invented back...
-
Fanta is manufactured by Coca Cola for international markets. It is best known as orange soda, although it comes in grape, lemon, lime and o...
-
History of Sprite Coke Sprite was introduced by Coca Cola in 1961. Now it’s become world’s leading flavored soft-drinks in category of le...
-
Evaporated (condensed) milk, like sweetened condensed milk was first developed in the early 19th century and has been available as a canned ...
-
The sweet apples resembling today’s; appeared several thousand years ago in Kazakhstan. In the mid second century Galen explain, implyin...
Vegetable Juice
- Cherry Juice as a Natural Remedy for Constipation and Digestive Health - 11/11/2024
- Beet Juice: A Natural Boost for Liver and Gallbladder Health - 11/4/2024
- How Bitter Gourd Juice Supports Eye Health and Prevents Cataracts - 10/18/2024
- Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice for Muscle Recovery and Pain Relief - 10/2/2024
- Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd Juice: A Nutrient-Packed, Blood Sugar-Controlling Powerhouse - 9/16/2024
Softdrinks and Beverage
- Key Nutritional Roles of Soft Drinks: Energy, Hydration, and Low-Calorie Options - 11/11/2024
- Coloring Agents in Soft Drinks: Balancing Visual Appeal, Safety, and Consumer Preferences - 11/1/2024
- Birch Beer: A Historic Beverage with Enduring Appeal - 10/14/2024
- Regulating Soft Drink Claims: Balancing Nutrition, Natural Extracts, and Consumer Appeal - 10/2/2024
- Hydration Benefits and Misleading Claims of Soft Drinks - 9/16/2024