Guwahati: Tea is one of the most prevalent and popular drink in India and it’s no surprise as the nation produces and savours more tea than anywhere else in the world. And to celebrate the love for Tea , today people all over the world are celebrating International Tea Day.
For the ones that love the Tea or popularly known as Chai, it is not just a drink; it is the national drink of our country. It is a culture that has discovered its roots in the Indian way of living and working in an extremely diverse and unique way and has turned into an indistinguishable part of the same.
Assam has the largest number of tea gardens in India. There are 765 tea estates and somewhere in the range of 100000 small tea gardens which out and out produce around 570 million Kg of tea every year which is more than 50 % of total production in India and 13 % delivered universally.
Lets Know About Assam Tea
Assam tea is a black tea made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Black teas are more heavily oxidized than other types of tea, like green tea or white tea. Oxidation is a chemical process that creates darker leaves and a more intense flavor. Assam tea is known for its full-bodied malty flavor, deep aroma, rich color, and brisk taste.
Assam tea gets its name from the Assam region in India, where it is grown. Assam lies along the Brahmaputra River—an area called the Brahmaputra Valley in northeast India, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. Assam is the largest tea growing region in the world. The tea here is grown at sea level, in a warm, wet climate. The weather conditions and terrain contribute to the distinct malty flavor of Assam tea.1
Assam tea is also known as Assam black tea, breakfast tea, English breakfast tea or Irish breakfast tea. The breakfast tea you see at your local tea shop or at the grocery store may be pure Assam tea or a blend of different tea leaves including Assam.
One of the most likely Assam tea benefits that you’ll experience is a boost in energy and an increase in mental alertness from the caffeine. Many tea drinkers especially enjoy this benefit in the morning.
There are other advertised benefits of Assam tea, but scientists haven’t been able to confirm with certainty that you’ll gain these advantages when you drink it.
For example, consumption of tea has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. Ongoing research is investigating the relationship. However, the National Cancer Institute and many other health organizations still maintain that even though there is a possibility that tea provides cancer prevention properties, research is still inconclusive.3
In addition, black tea contains polyphenols including catechins, flavonoids, and tannins. Polyphenols are plant-based chemicals that may provide health benefits. Researchers have linked consumption of flavonoids to important health outcomes, but scientists advise that more research is needed to say for certain if black tea can significantly boost your health.
Most experts recommend that if you want to take full advantages of any black tea health benefits, use loose leaves (rather than a tea bag) and don’t add milk or sugar.
Million Dollar Tea
It is hard to imagine that tea leaves can be worth a million dollars. But, the most expensive tea in the world is Da-Hong Pao Tea leaves. A kilo of Da-Hong Pao Tea leaves is valued at $1.2 million. It has been declared a national treasure by the Chinese government.
Apart from Da-Hong Pao Tea leaves tea like Panda Dung Tea, Yellow Gold Tea Buds, Tieguanyin Tea etc also holds their position strong in the world tea market and are the most expensive available globally.
