Tea market brewing strong in India

Winters have knocked on our doors. The mornings these days bring with them a fuzzy chill, while shawls and quilts have replaced stoles and sheets in the evenings. Apart from the temperature, the arrival of this annual guest is also reflected in our grocery shopping list — tea features in the top five items.

But buying tea is no longer as simple as picking up a Tata, Lipton, or Red label tea pack. “Earlier most of the good tea blends and leaves would be exported, so we had limited options to choose from. Today, a lot of variety is available, and fittingly, many are turning connoisseurs,” says Madhav Sarda, managing director of Golden Tips, a company with a 75-year-old history in tea. With the arrival of many national and international brands, the consumer is spoilt for choices.

Masala chai
This is ‘the’ tea which runs through every Indian’s veins. An early morning ritual for many, this tea flavoured with spices now comes in fancy packages in brands like Chaitime, Twinings and others. Simply put, this is the Assam CTC dust mixed with spices, brew it and you’ll get tea flavoured with a mix of cardamom, cloves, dry ginger and other spices. As a byproduct you’ll get protection from cold and flu, as the spices help build
immunity.
Darjeeling tea
A connoisseur’s favourite, the Darjeeling tea is originally from China. Sarda, whose estate produces some of the finest Darjeeling tea, says, “The tea plant is called Camellia Sinesis, which has two variants, the Assam bush and the China bush. Darjeeling tea comes from the China bush.” Interestingly, 150-years back the British planted some plants of the Chinese bush in Darjeeling. The unique climatic conditions offered by the district lent the leaves a distinct flavour, different from the original Chinese bush.

Green tea
This is the new entrant in the ever-growing list of teas. Giving a stiff competition to other tea blends, green tea sells for it aids in weight loss. Rupali Ambegaonkar, founder of the online teashop www.teacultureoftheworld.com, explains, “Green tea is made solely with the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing.” From the same plant comes many variants like white tea, oolong tea, Tie Gua Yin tea, Japanese Sencha tea, Matcha tea. The names are differ depending on the processing. A google search on its benefits is enough to make you a green tea convert. “The benefits are tremendous, but in broad spectrum it aids in weight loss, has anti-cancer properties, reduces cholesterol, controls diabetes, and keeps one young,” says Rupali. “Though 90% people opt for green tea for its slimming effect,” she adds.

Flower, herbal and fruit infusions
Jasmine tea is passe, the latest to catch people’s fancy are pure flower, herbal or fruit infusions. Picked up by those who steer clear from the caffeine content in tea, flower or fruit teas are not made from the tea leaves but contain dried flowers and fruits. While the aroma is therapeutic to the senses, there are some health benefits too. Rose tea clears acne and alleviates mood, chamomile tea calms your nerves and is a great relaxant. Chrysanthemum tea reduces dryness of eyes and controls blood pressure. The good old jasmine tea is a mood stabiliser and an aphrodisiac. Lemon, citrus and mint teas aid digestion.  

Take a sip
The variety is easily available at supermarkets like Dorabjee’s, Big Bazaar, Central, and others. If you want to explore international brands, check out Godrej Nature’s Basket (Dhole Patil Road), The Providore (Aundh), or Tutto Benne (Wanavdi and Koregaon Park). One can also order international teas from www.teacultureoftheworld.com or call on 9821743480. The Darjeeling fans can try Golden Tips, which is available at leading supermarkets, and offers countless varieties like the orange pekoe, first flush, second flush, earl grey, oolong, white tea and more.

— N D