Jashpur district, tucked away in the north-eastern part of Chhattisgarh is fast becoming the most preferred destination for agritourism in Central India. This district is blessed with stunning natural beauty, exotic flowers and excellent agricultural produce.
This tribal belt is dotted with many plantations growing coffee, strawberry, cashew, pear and chamomile. However, it is the high-quality handmade tea of Jashpur district that has really scripted its fame.
Historically, the tea gardens of Assam and Tripura have been considered to be the best in India, but an experiment on the hilly terrain of Jashpur district yielded unexpected results. Tea from Assam was grown in some pockets of this district and much to the astonishment of all, proved to be even better than Darjeeling and Assam tea!
Locals attribute the smooth taste of this tea to the conducive agro-climatic conditions (hot and humid weather and lateritic soil rich in organic matter) and the organic farming techniques (drip irrigation, mulching, pesticides prepared from cow urine and cow dung and regular soil rejuvenation).
This experiment has proven to be hugely successful providing employment and steady income to the locals. The lush green tea plantations produce both green tea as well as the popular CTC tea on a commercial scale.
The fancy packaging and aggressive marketing of the green tea made in Sogra and Sarudih tea estates have really helped to promote this exquisite tea. Handcrafted green tea from Jashpur is now available across India and it is only a matter of time before it reaches the international markets.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
* Photos are only symbolic (Taken from public domain/internet and any copyright infringement is unintentional and regrettable)
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