Question

Describe the distribution of tea in India.

Answer 1

India is the largest producer of tea in the world, contributing about 35% of global production. Production has risen from 275 thousand tonnes in 1950–51 to 1,200 thousand tonnes in 2015–16, with the cultivation area expanding from 3.14 lakh hectares to 6 lakh hectares in the same period. Most tea is grown in north-east India, with Assam being the largest producer, accounting for over 40% of the area and more than half the total output, mainly from Brahmaputra and Surma valleys. West Bengal produces nearly one-fourth of India’s tea, especially in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar, with Darjeeling tea renowned worldwide for its flavour. In South India, tea is cultivated in Tamil Nadu (notably the Nilgiri and Anaimalai Hills), Kerala, and Karnataka .