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On Kerala tours, with Kerala Backwater as you travel to the hill ranges of the Western Ghats in Kerala, you'll find some of the highest tea estates in India in and around Munnar. Tea plantations and tea cultivation were introduced to Kerala by British settlers in colonial times, when they found that the temperature and soil conditions of the hill ranges of Kerala were suited to tea cultivation. India is today the world's largest tea producer and exporter.
The tea plantations in Kerala are a beautiful sight as the green tea bushes cover the gentle hill slopes and forma green mantle over the surface of the hills. Some tea plantations also provide accommodation to tourists on Kerala tours who would like to stay close to nature in a quiet getaway and observe the wildlife and traditional routine of an agricultural plantation. The plantations are equipped with modern conveniences to make your stay as comfortable as possible on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater. The serene tea plantations of Kerala are a pleasant eco tourism option among Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.
Live in plantations lodges and mansions in a tea plantation in Kerala on tours of Kerala and eco tourism holidays with Kerala Backwater. See the process of tea harvesting and processing, go for nature treks and relax in the soothing environment of the tea estates of Kerala on tours of the tea plantations of Kerala with Kerala Backwater.
Tea cultivation in Kerala:
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) was introduced to India by the British during colonial times. The bush has shiny green leaves with pointed ends and have a pleasant aroma. Take a deep breath as you walk through a tea plantation in Kerala and you can feel the fragrance of tea invigorate you.
Tea bushes will grow to tree height in the wild. On plantations however tea bushes are maintained at waist height so the leaves can be plucked easily. Tea picking is carried out by hand, usually by groups of women. Their agile fingers pick only the bud and first two leaves of each shoot and place them in a basket slung behind their backs. The women often sing as they work to help them sustain a rhythm as they move along the rows of tea bushes. The tea leaves are processed after plucking and sorted into categories based on fermentations and other processing treatments. The three broad classifications of tea are - Green Tea, Oolong Tea and Black Tea.
Apart from tea bushes other plants grown on tea plantations include pepper, cardamom, cashew, and areca nut. The shade trees grown to shelter tea bushes are also harvested for their fruit. You can see the see the process of tea picking and processing on tea plantations in Kerala, while on nature tours in Kerala with Kerala Backwater.
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