![]() |
Visit |
Tea in Africa
Tea was introduced into the Botanic
Gardens at Entebbe, Uganda, in 1900. This was an experimental
stage of development and proved to be very successful. A Mr. G.G.
Talbot established an industry there. In Kenya, the first white
settlers to plant tea were brothers by the name of Orchardson. In
the mid 1920's Brooke, Bond & Company purchased the land and
began extensive planting.
From that point on, company after company bought land in East and
West Africa, particularly East Africa, and began huge estates.
Most of them have now been consolidated and purchased by large
tea companies and conglomerates. The base tea seeds came from the
district of Assam in NE India. East Africa produces mostly black
teas and West Africa, green teas. Kenya and Tanzania are the
largest tonnage producers.
African tea did not have any significant impact on the US tea
market since consumption of tea in the US was, and is, low
compared to other countries. Further, East African teas had
little impact on the European market outside of England where it
was used strictly as a blending tea. West African tea, the green
production, made a big impact on the market in the Mediterranean
countries since it was cheaper and easier to get than green China
teas and in those days, India did not product green teas as it
does today.
The Tea Man
info@teatalk.com |
Prepared by and property of:
"The Tea Man"
May not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent
of: "The Tea Man"
Copyright © April 1999