Plantation Crops

Assam teav

Assam tea

• Large leaved Assam tea have been recognized. = Camellia sinensis L. var assamica (Syn:Camellia assamica, and Thea assamica)
• It is apparently indigenous to Assam, Mynmar, Thailand, Vietnam and South China.
  Features:

  1) Quick growing: It is quick growing tender plant of more southern distribution.

  2) Stature: It grows into a single stemmed tree about 17 m in height if allowed to grow unimpeded.

  3) Leaves: Larger leaves of 15 – 20 cm long usually thinner drooping leaves more or less acuminate at the apex, light green, glossy, puberulous chiefly along the mid rib below.

  4) Economical life: It has a economical life of about 40 years.

  5) Quality : The tea made from China plants have a definite character and flavour, but lack strength and quality which are marked in Assam teas when grown in certain areas

  6) Distribution : Assam tea is used in North East India, South India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Africa and South America

• Numerous hybrids between China and Assam types are known around Darjeeling in India. As tea is largely cross-pollinated and most of the commercial crop is raised from seed, the crop is very heterogenous.