People often ask me where our tea comes from? It is a great question……….
Assam is a region in the remote northeastern part of India. Historically, this has been the only region, outside of modern day China, where native tea (camellia assamica) has been cultivated for thousands of years.
In the last year Assam manufactured over 600 million kilograms of black tea. Over 90% of these teas are made as CTC ( cut tear curl) honey and cream type of tea. Mostly these teas are consumed within India. The rest (54 million kilograms) are made as orthodox teas and exported.
Assam teas, or blends containing Assam, are often sold as "breakfast" teas. For instance, Irish breakfast tea, a maltier and stronger breakfast tea, consists of small-sized Assam tea leaves.
The introduction of the Assam tea bush to Europe is related to Robert Bruce, a Scottish adventurer, who apparently encountered it in the year 1823. Bruce reportedly found the plant growing "wild" in Assam while trading in the region. Maniram Dewan directed him to the local Singpho chief Bessa Gam.
Bruce noticed local tribesmen (the Singhpos) brewing tea from the leaves of the bush and arranged with the tribal chiefs to provide him with samples of the leaves and seeds, which he planned to have scientifically examined. Robert Bruce died shortly thereafter, without having seen the plant properly classified.
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).
In the last year Assam manufactured over 600 million kilograms of black tea. Over 90% of these teas are made as CTC ( cut tear curl) honey and cream type of tea. Mostly these teas are consumed within India. The rest (54 million kilograms) are made as orthodox teas and exported.
The White Wabbit has made a map for you to see where Assam is.