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New Delhi: History of Tea: There is no doubt that tea flows in the veins of India. For an average Indian, the start of the day is incomplete without a hot cup of tea. One cup of tea while leaving home, one cup after reaching office and one cup of ‘tea’ in the evening to relieve fatigue. The thing is that it is with us every moment.
The taste of Indian tea is so unique that it cannot be described in words. It’s not just a drink, it’s an experience in itself. Nowadays Indian masala tea has become famous all over the world. In many countries, the word “chai” has come to mean Indian-style tea.
You may be surprised to hear that the popularity of tea in India is not that old. Till a few decades ago, many Indians had not even tasted tea. Tea came to India during the British rule and has undergone many changes since then. Today it is known as ‘Indian Tea’ all over the world. Let us know the interesting history of this delicious tea in this article.
Tea was discovered accidentally
You will be surprised to know that the history of tea is not related to Britain but to China. It is believed that tea was invented in 2732 BC by the Chinese ruler Sheng Nung during an unknown experiment, it is said that he accidentally put the leaves of a wild plant into boiling water and suddenly felt a wonderful aroma The color of the water had also changed. Out of curiosity he tried this drink and liked it so much that he started drinking it regularly.
History of tea in India
We all know that tea came to India after the arrival of the British. But do you know that even before this, tea was drunk in India from 1200 to 1600. In northeastern states like Assam, tea grew spontaneously in the forests. Many other tribal groups, including the Simpho tribal community, drink this wild tea for health benefits.
There is evidence of tea drinking in Indian cities due to trade routes with Europe, the Middle East and China. For example, in the late 17th century, people in the city of Surat in Gujarat used tea imported from China to treat stomach aches and headaches.
British rule and the birth of the Indian tea industry
The history of industrial tea production in India is linked to the conflict between the British Empire and China. Facing disruption in the tea trade with China, the British began cultivating tea in the forests of Assam. Initially, most Indian tea was produced for export and very little was consumed in the domestic market. However, due to the global economic recession in the early 20th century, tea producers had to focus on the domestic market. Efforts were made to increase the popularity of tea through advertisements and gradually the habit of drinking tea developed among Indians.
Indians gave a new taste to tea
Indians have come up with their own unique way of making tea. He preferred to boil the tea leaves directly in water instead of boiling them in milk. Of course, they learned the method of mixing milk and sugar from the British, but Indians made their own changes in it. He increased the amount of tea leaves to increase the strength of the tea.
Indian tea sellers added local spices to enhance the taste of tea. They made tea from things like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. This is the reason why our masala tea is famous all over the world. However, it cannot be said where and how masala tea was first made.