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TEA CULTIVATION IN GEORGIA. The history of tea planting in Georgia started in the first half of the 19th century. Prince Mikha Eristavi was the first enthusiast of tea culture in Georgia. He first saw tea plantations in China and some years later he managed to grow several tea bushes in his estate near Ozurgeti (Western Georgia, Guria). In 1864 he brought the first samples of Georgian tea to St.Petersburg exhibition. That very sample is now considered as prototype of Georgian brand tea. Later the quality of Georgian tea was notably improved due to efforts of other tea-planting enthusiasts. In 1899 Georgian tea was awarded a gold medal at the Paris World exhibition. It was recognised that tea grown in Georgia had perfect characteristics for top quality black and green teas production. Until the soviet period tea in Georgia was cultivated in insignificant quantities - about 500 tonnes annually. In the 20-ies the soviet government approved the state programme on tea planting development in the country. Anaseuli Scientific Research Institute of Tea and Subtropical Cultures was established that time in order to provide scientific research and selection of new tea varieties. The specialists of the Institute raised new original sorts of Georgian tea that were remarkable for unique tender taste and flavour. Further the soviet system of command economy practically destroyed the quality of this product. The main requirement was to produce tea in huge quantities that was achieved at the expense of violation in picking and processing technology. Our company has broken away the CTC technology and uses only the traditional technology of "Orthodox" type. Accordingly, every 10-12 days the tealeaf pickers gather only three upper leaves and a gemma. The raw material of such quality provides the top quality of the end product. |
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