Indians + Chai = An eternal love story.
Your favorite blend of tea, cozying up in a blanket and reading your morning newspaper. Sounds like a perfect start to the day, doesn’t it?
Tea is one of the most common beverages found in every household of India, is the most preferred drink across the country. Thus, it is evident that about 70 percent of tea produced in India is consumed within the country. So, where does India rank in tea production? It is no surprise that India has the second-highest tea production in the world.
You can give credit to several tea plantation states in India for making the country excel in cultivating these aromatic tea leaves. Since a long time, India has become the largest hub for tea cultivation in the world after China. Tea farming in India started in 1837 in Chabua in Upper Assam under the British rule. Even today, Assam reigns as a supreme producer in tea cultivation in India. Assam produces more than 50 percent of the total tea production of the country, making it the largest producer of tea in India.
Looking for a chai masala? Team Mishry reviewed 10 chai masalas, find out which one topped our list and why was it our top pick.
Table of Contents
Where Is Tea Grown In India? Suitable Conditions To Grow Tea Leaves
You must be familiar with the fact that tea is grown at the foothills of mountains. India has diverse climatic conditions. The monsoon rain, porous sub-soil, sloping hills, and the moderate temperature are indigenous for the growth of tea crop in India.
The northern part of India is covered by mountain ranges. The southern part of India consists of the mountainous Nilgiri hills. The sloping hilly terrain is the most suitable for tea plantation. You will find the high-quality tea plantation states in India in these regions. You can cultivate superior tea leaves in India if the following conditions are met.
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Temperature – The ideal temperature for tea production in India is 21oC for continuous eight months. India’s climatic condition in the north-east region is such that it promotes the highest yields between June to September. The monsoon weather is another factor that contributes towards the best quality of tea leaves when the weather is warm and rainy.
Sloping Hills – Many flock to witness the mesmerising landscape of the tea garden to the breathtaking valleys of the Himalayas and North East. You can procure the exquisite taste of Indian tea from the tea regions located at the slopes of the hilly terrains. Tea crops cannot thrive in stagnant water. Thus, it is essential to sow the tea seeds on sloping land. You will find that high-quality tea is cultivated in sloping estates, located at an altitude of 1,220 meters and above. All tea estates have a sloping terrains.
Soil – Tea cultivators nurture the best tea crops in soils that are acidic, loamy, and porous. The soil should be free of calcium.
Names Of Top Tea Plantation States In India
Many parts of the country that have a suitable climate for tea growth are engaged in manufacturing tea leaves. Here is a list of sixteen tea producing states in India. However, Assam and West Bengal (Darjeeling) are the major tea producing states in India. Here is the list of the top tea plantation states in India.
- West Bengal
- Assam
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Himachal Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Arunachal Pradesh
Which Place Is Known As Tea Garden Of India?
Tea Plantation States In India are spread throughout the country. Diverse parts of the country are indulging in tea cultivation. The best tea plantation states in India are concentrated more on the North East and Southern side. However, only a few places are known as the tea garden of India. Here is a list of tea production in India state wise.
- Darjeeling, West Bengal
The geographical condition of Darjeeling is the source for the highest production of tea in India. Darjeeling is nestled in the Kalimpong District in West Bengal, India. The tea shrubs are spread over 437 acres of land at the height of 6,800 feet above the sea level.
The place is popular for processing black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea, which are of export quality. Most tea producing state in India process tea leaves for in-house consumers. However, Darjeeling tea leaves are mostly exported. Darjeeling is also a popular hill station with beautiful views all around of mountain ranges and tea estates. Some tea estates also offer guided tours of the factory. Currently there are over 85 operational tea garden in Darjeeling.
2. Jorhat, Assam
Statistics prove that Assam is one of the largest tea producing states in India. Eight hundred three registered tea estates, and 100,000 small tea gardens of Assam provide a whopping 700 million kilogram of tea annually.
The climatic condition of the upper Brahmaputra valley is the most suitable for tea production. The largest producer state of tea in India is none other than Assam.
3. Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu
If you prefer strong, dark, and aromatic tea, then you should run towards Coonoor, Nilgiri Hills in the Western Ghats, where you can find a strong blend of tea. You will find a variety of exotic tea, such as orange tea, oolong tea, white tea as well as green tea. You can give the credit for the lingering taste of aromatic tea to the geographical conditions of Tamil Nadu. It is at an elevation of 1,000 to 2,500 meters above the sea level and receives 60 to 90 inches of rain annually.
4. Tea Plantations in Karnataka
If you have the urge to drink organic tea, then you can take a trip to Karnataka tea plantation. The rugged terrain of Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, and Dakshina Kannada are the tea growing regions of Karnataka. The beauty of the green blanket covering the southern part of India not only contributes to the production of tea but also other high-value commercial crops like coffee. It is one of the leading producer of tea in India.
5. Kolukkumalai Tea Plantation, Tamil Nadu
Perching at the height of 7900 ft, Kolukkumalai is a small hamlet in Tamil Nadu. It happens to be the highest and the most beautiful tea garden in India. If you are passionate about tea and travel, you should not miss a trip to Kolukkumalai.
6. Munnar Tea Plantation, Kerala
Munnar tea plantation rests about 5,200 feet above sea level. Munnar is a hill station of south India in the Western Ghats mountain range. Big brand names in tea production occupy over 50 tea estates in the region. While you take a sip of aromatic tea from Munnar, you can also take a short trip to the Tea Museum there. Tea lovers flock to Kerala not only to have an exquisite tea but also to understand the mechanism of tea processing.
7. Darang Tea Plantation, Himachal Pradesh
Tea plantation in Darang is hidden-away in the rustic charm of Himachal Pradesh. The British established most of the tea plantation in India. However, an Indian was the pioneer of planting the tea garden of Himachal Pradesh about 150 years ago. Since the mid-19th century, the Kangra valley has been the hub for producing green tea and black tea.
Did You Know?
THE GUWAHATI TEA AUCTION CENTRE SET A NEW WORLD RECORD BY SELLING TEA AT RS. 40,000 FOR A KILOGRAM.
Largest Tea Plantation States In India 2020
The demand for consumption of tea is rising in the Indian market as well as in the export market. Assam and West Bengal are the two tea producing states in India, which will aim to meet the maximum demand of the tea consumers.
The leaders of tea manufacturing units estimate that if the trend continues, India’s tea production would be the highest in the near future. Tea plantation is not just a crop for Indians; it also has a rich heritage. Apart from providing instant energy and refreshment, researchers claim that drinking tea can improve your health. It benefits people suffering from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and digestive problems. A range of herbal tea is an ayurvedic method to ward off illness. Tea is therapeutic during headaches and menstruation cycles. Thus, tea production in our country is always done at a fast speed.
