UpdateBot at 18:22, 3 February 2022

2022-02-03T18:22:56Z

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{{Short description|Tea from the Kangra valley in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
[[File:A tea plantation, sights, scenic nature, and culture Himachal Pradesh India.jpg|thumb|right|A tea plantation in [[Palampur]].]]
'''Kangra tea''' is a [[tea]] from the [[Kangra district]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]. Both [[black tea]] and [[green tea]] have been produced in the [[Kangra Valley]] since the mid-19th century. Kangra tea was given the [[Geographical Indication]] status in 2005.

==History==
Tea was first grown in the Kangra region in the mid-19th century. After a feasibility survey in 1848 showed the area of being suitable for tea plantation, a Chinese variety of ''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' was planted across the region. The production turned out to be successful in [[Palampur]] and [[Dharamshala]], despite failing in other locations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Industry legend Kangra Tea declines on poor returns|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-13/news/27595493_1_kangra-tea-tea-plantation-tea-garden-owners|publisher=Economic Times|access-date=26 January 2016|date=13 October 2010}}</ref> By the 1880s, the Kangra tea was considered to be superior to tea from other places, and was bought in [[Kabul]] and [[Central Asia]]. In 1882, the ''Kangra District Gazette'' described Kangra tea as "superior to that produced in any other part of India."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/tea-the-kangra-way/article6120742.ece|title=Tea, the Kangra way|date=2014-06-17|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-06-24}}</ref> In 1886 and 1895, the tea received gold and silver medals at International conventions held in [[London]] and [[Amsterdam]].<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Mann Tea Estate - 2.jpg|alt=Mann Tea Estate, Dharamsala.|thumb|Locals and tourists alike take walks through a tea estate in Dharamsala.]]
However, the [[1905 Kangra earthquake]] caused thousands of deaths and destruction of factories, forcing the British to sell the plantations and leave the area. In the decades that followed, only small quantities of Kangra tea were produced by the new owners.<ref name="hindu">{{cite web|last1=Menon|first1=Aparna|title=Tea, the Kangra way|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/tea-the-kangra-way/article6119258.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=26 January 2016|date=16 June 2014}}</ref>

After a further decline of produce in the 21st century, research and techniques are being promoted, aimed at reviving the brand by increasing the produce.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bharadwaj|first1=Ajay|title=Can Kangra's tea regain its old flavour?|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-can-kangra-s-tea-regain-its-old-flavour-1007239|publisher=DNA India|access-date=26 January 2016|date=13 January 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sanyal|first1=Santanu|title=Tea Board steps to boost output, exports of Kangra tea|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/tea-board-steps-to-boost-output-exports-of-kangra-tea/article3294137.ece|publisher=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=26 January 2016|date=8 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Gulati|first1=Vishal|title=Kangra Tea is set for another bloom|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article439612.ece|publisher=The New Indian Express|access-date=26 January 2016|date=18 June 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the then Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, [[Anand Sharma]], laid the foundation stone for the Palampur regional office of the [[Tea Board of India]], marking a significant step towards the re-integration of the Kangra region into the mainstream of the Indian tea industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teaboard.gov.in/Foundation_Stone_Laying_Ceremony_of_the_Regional_Office_of_Tea_Board_at_Palampur.html?param_link_id=22081|title=Tea Board of India|website=www.teaboard.gov.in|access-date=2016-06-24}}</ref>

==Description==
Although Kangra cultivates both black tea and green tea, black tea constitutes around 90 percent of the production. As of May 2015, there are 5,900 tea gardens in the area covering about 2,312 hectares of land between Dharamsala, Shahpur, [[Palampur]], [[Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh|Baijnath]] and [[Jogindernagar]]; with an annual output of 8.99 lakh kg.<ref name=euro>{{cite web|last1=Chauhan|first1=Pratibha|title=Kangra tea to get Europeon GI tag soon|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/kangra-tea-to-get-europeon-gi-tag-soon/82701.html|work=The Tribune|access-date=26 January 2016|date=20 May 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Mann Tea Estate 1.jpg|alt=Mann Tea Estate, Dharmsala Tea Company.|thumb|Mann Tea Estate, owned by Dharmsala Tea Company, located in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, about half an hour from McLeodganj. ]]
Kangra tea is known for its unique color and flavor.<ref name=euro/>While the black tea has a sweet lingering after taste, the green tea has a delicate woody aroma. The unique characteristics of the tea is attributed to the geographical properties of the region.<ref name=hindu/> It was granted the [[Geographical Indication]] tag in 2005 by Office of the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, [[Chennai]], as per Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=State Wise Registration Details of G.I Applications |url=http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registered_GI_18November2015.pdf |website=Geographical Indication Registry |access-date=26 January 2016 |page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201065403/http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registered_GI_18November2015.pdf |archive-date= 1 February 2016 }}</ref>

Flavour is indeed the unique selling proposition of Kangra tea. The Chinese hybrid variety grown here produces a very pale liquor, which is the reason why Kangra does not produce any CTC (crushed, turned, curled) tea—the staple tea of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/9LR7OHpJh5NMOLDEVoWAYP/Kangra-Tea--Turning-a-new-leaf.html|title=Kangra Tea {{!}} Turning a new leaf - Livemint|website=www.livemint.com|access-date=2016-06-24}}</ref>

==Tea tourism==
[[File:Towa - 1.jpg|alt=Towa Tea Estate|thumb|Towa Tea Estate, owned by Dharmsala Tea Company, lies at an altitude of over 6,500 ft.]]
[[File:Tea Gardens Dharamshala.jpg|thumb|Tea garden in Dharamsala at sunset]]
Tea tourism is slowly beginning to gain ground in and around Kangra. Several of the tea estates and tea factories in Palampur and Dharamsala offer factory tours as well as home stays for those interested in learning more about the tea. The Dharmsala Tea Company offers guided tours of its factory and tea gardens, starting from its factory in Mann Tea Estate. Similarly, the Palampur Cooperative Tea Factory offers factory tours and homestays.

==See also==
* [[Darjeeling tea]]
* [[Nilgiri tea]]
* [[Assam tea]]
* [[Tea Board of India]]
* [[Kangra Valley]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Teas}}
{{Indian beverages}}

[[Category:Indian tea]]
[[Category:Tea industry in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kangra, Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kangra district]]
[[Category:Black tea]]
[[Category:Green tea]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Himachal Pradesh]]

Kangra tea - Revision history

UpdateBot at 18:22, 3 February 2022