Rajendra S Markuna n
With experts of the Kolkata Tea Traders' Association approving its taste and quality equivalent to that of Darjeeling tea, aroma of Champawat's orthodox green leaf organic tea will soon add to the taste of tea lovers in many European countries.
“The Kolkata Tea Traders' Association has approved quality of our orthodox green tea, describing its quality equivalent to Darjeeling tea. So, we are ready to export the orthodox green leaf organic tea to different countries, particularly to European countries like Germany as there is great demand for our tea product in these countries,” Desmond Birkbeck, manager, Champawat unit of the Uttarakhand Tea Development Board (UTDB), told The Pioneer.
“The interesting fact is that with the UTDB becoming member of the Kolkata Tea Traders' Association recently, now it has become easier for us to dispose off our orthodox tea both in domestic and international markets,” added Birkbeck.
When asked what the State Government is doing to popularise the homegrown tea at domestic level, he said that since a majority of the people are habitual to the convention tea, popularly known as CTC tea available in the market, therefore, “we are catering to the international market particularly the European countries,” Birkbeck said. “It is quite encouraging for us to receive a positive response from the Kolkata Tea Traders' Association. Keeping in view the encouraging feedback from tea experts and increasing demand for our tea product globally, we have set a target of growing 9,000 kg orthodox tea leaf in Champawat next year,” he further said. “However, we had been able to produce 5436 kg orthodox tea in Champawat last year. The tea leaf plucking season generally starts from April to September,” he said.
The devastating monsoon last year also had an adverse impact on tea production in Champawat. “But we are hopeful that this year if weather conditions remain normal the target of tea production would definitely be as per our expectations,” officials said. This organic tea of the hill State is not only a refreshing drink, but also a healthy beverage. Presence of antioxidants in it help in curing various heart ailments, experts said.
That is why demand for this high altitude grown organic tea is high among health conscious people in countries like Korea, England, Germany to name a few, experts said. Tea is cultivated in about 150 hectares in Champawat district today. Efforts are on to expand the tea farming in this hill district. Among the villages in Champawat district where tea crop is grown presently include Muryani, Chauki, Garkot, Kalukhan, Dhaun, Morari, Chheerapani, Chyurakhark, Silingtak,Majhera to name a few. The tea project in Uttrakhand was started in 1995-1996. However, its cultivation remained disrupted for many years.
But when Uttarakhand came into being, the State Government started promotion of tea cultivation in its hill districts from 2003-2004, keeping in view suitable climatic conditions of these upper hilly zones.