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that frequent tea drinking helped to slow down aging and was good
for preventing and curing cardiac and cerebral vascular
diseases and for many other ailments. Wuyi Black Dragon is
advertised as a cure for hangovers, high blood pressure, bad
temper and as a tonic for making the drinker feel generally
alert.
Although China is the major tea producing country in the
world in terms of tonnage, I learnt surprisingly little of
relevance to developing a UK tea market from my visit there.
This was due to one thing: the Chinese put no emphasis at
all on marketing. They are purely producers.
What I did learn that was of value to me were certain
production techniques. One needs to go to China to get to
grips with the history and art of growing tea and understand
the fundamental complexities of the operation.
8) India and Sri Lanka
Although arrangements had been made, and a visa purchased,
for a visit to India and Sri Lanka, political instability
meant that the trip is to be postponed until late 2003.
The history of tea in India is worth recounting; it offers
lessons to other prospective producing areas. It falls into
clearly marked phases:
o Pioneers tackled the dangerous forests in the south, and
in Assam
o Machinery was created, from which our modern machinery has
evolved
o Planters focussed on yield and labour issues
o Research was instituted and great advances were made all
round.
o The Second World War checked progress but also forced
further modernisation.
o A good part of the industry is British owned even now.
o In the last few years Bhutan, Sikkim and others are
developing tea.
Major tea-producing companies in India include the Goodricke
Group of Companies, based in Calcutta, but part of the UK
Lawrie Group and I have already met the Chairman in London. |
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