UPASI to promote diverse south Indian tea gardens

United Planters' Association of South India (UPASI) has embarked on a mission to showcase its diverse tea regions to increase visibility and also to create a market for teas grown in south India.

The association has selected six major tea regions "" Nilgiris, Anamallias, Wyanad, High Ranges, Travancore, Karnataka "" as also several other regions like Nelliampathy, Madurai, Singampatti, Quilon, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari.

This exercise is being conducted as the regions are in diverse agro-climatic zones, being located at altitudes ranging from 750 to 2,100 metre, and have diverse soils. Hence, the teas grown are distinct, according to Anil Kumar Bhandari, president, UPASI.

"We at UPASI recently organised a Tea Quality Competition for South Indian teas with the objective of showcasing quality South Indian teas to both the domestic and international consumers. This was a success with nearly 100 growers taking part," he added.

This competition is now planned to be held annually and will serve as a benchmark for good South Indian teas.

The annual tea production from South India is estimated at around 200 million kgs and of this more than 50 per cent is exported to the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

Nilgiris is the largest tea tract in south India with an area of 45,000 hectares producing nearly 70 million kgs. The high elevation with the climatic condition characterised by cold dry and misty weather, give distinctive quality attributes to Nilgiri teas like flavourful, fragrance and aroma. Anamallias have around 11,750 hectares under tea with an annual production of 27 million kgs. Teas of this region possess a medium to high tone fragrance and golden safforn liquor.

Wyanad has about 22,500 hectares with production of about 40 million kgs. This region in lower elevation with high rainfall is well known for the teas with black leaf appearance, clean fragrance and earthy reddish full bodied liquor.

High Ranges have 13,000 hectares under tea with production of nearly 25 million kgs. With high altitude, high rainfall and cold weather, the region produces strong bodied teas with lively briskness and a startling note of sweetness.

Travancore has around 13,500 hectares under cultivation with annual production of about 12 million kgs. Being in medium to lower elevation with high rainfall produces teas known for the black leaf appearance with medium fragrance and reddish liquor.

Karnataka has 2,100 hectares under tea and 70 per cent of this is in Chikmagalur district. Total production is about 5.5 million kgs. Teas grown there are simple yet fragrant with golden ochre liquor.

Among the other minor tea producing regions, in Nelliampathy tea is grown on 1,550 hectares with 3 million kgs production. Regions like Madurai, Singampatti, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and

Kanyakumari have 4,500 hectares under tea with production of 5 million kgs.