TEA AND TOURISM -- 1::

FOREIGNERS GET PROFESSIONAL TEA TASTING EXPERIENCE

BY PS SUNDAR

                     Visitors from Germany, Indonesia and Nepal benefited from the unique experience of ‘professional tea tasting’ of many Nilgiri tea varieties, thanks to value-enhancement ‘Tea and Tourism’ session organised by Kothari Agricultural Management Centre (KAMC) IN Coonoor on Feb 18, 2015.

“Two German ladies are on ‘tea tour’ in South India, through COMINDIA, an organisation promoting Indo-German tourism venture.  Three officers of National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Nepal, and one officer from Research Institute of Tea and Cinchona, Indonesia, are on a programme sponsored by Government of India”, KAMC Director Dr AVK Iyengar told me.

On his request, I gave a brief orientation on the global and Indian tea situation with accent on the Nilgiris tea.   I also introduced them to the tourism impact of tea.  More importantly, I took them through ‘wellness’ factor of tea – its anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, oxidation, cholesterol reduction, endothelial, Polyphenol, digestion, dermatological, nerves, bones, dental and mental alertness.  I rounded off highlighting the hospitality and eco-friendly role played by tea.  These were well-appreciated.

Following this, Tea-Tasting expert Baskaran guided them through first-hand experience of valuing tea through appearance, infusion, liquor colour, strength and flavour besides using tongue’s taste buds.   Many varieties of Nilgiri teas were used for tasting.   The visitors took some such teas with them.

Differentiating from the black teas were the multiple brewing Avataa green tea varieties.  “In this Avataa collection, I prefer Avataa White and Avataa oolong teas.   I am taking them back with me”, Tigges Roswitha from Frankfurt said.

“My preference is Avataa Silver tip tea and I believe it has value for money”, added Klinz Rotraut from Berlin.

Chhimkala Acharya, Ful maya Anybo and Suresh Raut from Nepal as also Januar Budhi from Indonesia showed their appreciation to the different tea varieties in the Nilgiris.