GLIMPSES OF INDIA: PART- III TEA FROM ASSAM

BY ARUP KUMAR DATTA

Rajvir’s Visit to Assam

Rajvir and Pranjol are travelling to Assam by train as Pranjol has invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Rajvir is very excited to see the beautiful scenery of greenery and tea plantations outside. Rajvir tells Pranjol that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk everyday throughout the world.

The Beautiful Tea Gardens

Rajvir looks at the scenery outside and is mesmerised by its beauty. The view from the train was also panoramic ( a wide view). There was greenery outside. The soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes. Tea bushes spread as far as the eye could see.

Legends About Discovery of Tea

There are many legends about the discovery of tea. The Chinese legend says that when a few tea leaves accidentally fell into boiling water which the emperor tasted and liked, and tea making started.

Indian legend tells that a Buddhist monk cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of these eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk drove away sleep.

Chinese – Tea Lovers

Rajvir told Pranjol that tea was first drunk in china. Worlds like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are of Chinese origin. From China, it spread to Europe and then to Asia. Earlier tea was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.

Dhekiabri

The boys alighted at Miriani junction. Soon, they were driving towards Dhekiabri, the tea garden managed by Pranjol’s father. Groups of tea pluckers, with bamboo baskets on their backs and wearing plastic aprons, plucking the newly sprouted leaves, could be seen everywhere. The best tea is obtained during the period of May to July.

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