TITLE:
British Colonization and Development of Black Tea Industry in India: A Case Study of Darjeeling
AUTHORS:
Sadia Akhtar, Song Wei
KEYWORDS:
Black Tea Industry, British Colonization, Processing Technologies, Darjeeling, Labour Availability
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.10 No.4,
December
8,
2021
ABSTRACT: In the early 19th century, the black tea demand was
much higher in British, thus, the British government paid serious attention to
its cultivation and industrial development in their Indian colonies. Darjeeling
was one of the famous places among the Indian colonies, where the tea
plantation, cultivation, and industry were initiated with the establishment of
British colonization. The black tea produced in Darjeeling had splendid
flavored and built its demand in the world tea market. Thus, Darjeeling black
tea spread widely and had an influential effect on the market economy of India.
Herein, we highlight the impact of British colonization on the development of
black tea industry and processing technology in Darjeeling. The crucial factors
that flourish the black tea industry in Darjeeling are explored in detail. The
tea plantation in Darjeeling was established due to a favorable agro-climatic
situation and specific soil characteristics. The factors initiated by the
British colonial government including tea
processing skills and technologies, infrastructure development, and land
and labour availability have enabled the tea industry to extend its market worldwide. This study enlightens the
development of the black tea industry in Darjeeling during the British
era and offers new insights for the historian.