Growing

Tea mainly grows between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, requiring up to 1250mm of rain per year, as well as a temperature between 10 to 30 degrees centigrade. It will grow from sea level up to 2400 metres.

Because a tea's flavour is so dependent on where and how it's grown, great care and attention is taken to ensure that the best possible growing conditions are created. This means in some cases planting trees to generate shade that will protect the tea plants, or planting wind breaks, to prevent damage from strong winds. This is especially true of the exposed plains of Assam.

The Tea Plants (or bushes) themselves are placed in rows approximately one metre apart in an area known as a 'tea garden'. The bushes must be pruned every four to five years in order to keep them rejuvenated and at a convenient height for the 'pluckers' to reach the tea leaves. This is known as the "Plucking Table".

A tea bush will easily produce good tea for 50 - 70 years, but after 50 years the plants' yield will reduce. At this time the older bushes will be considered for replacement by younger plants grown on the estates nursery.