Which is the largest tea-producing state in India?

Assam is the largest tea-producing state in India, producing more than half of the country's total tea output. India is the second-largest producer of tea in the world, after China, and one of the largest consumers.

Tea grows best in tropical and subtropical climates with:

• Warm temperatures (about 20-30°C) throughout the year.
• Heavy rainfall (150-300 cm), well distributed through the year, but no waterlogging.
• Well-drained, deep, fertile soils rich in humus and iron, which are slightly acidic.
• Hill slopes, which allow water to drain away from the roots.
• A large supply of cheap, skilled labour, because tea leaves are plucked by hand.

Assam's Brahmaputra and Barak valleys provide these conditions. Assam tea is known for its strong, malty flavour and bright colour, and is widely used in breakfast teas. Tea grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam is a native variety, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, which was found growing wild in the region in the 1820s by Robert Bruce. The first tea garden in India was set up at Chabua in Assam in 1837.

West Bengal is the second-largest producer. Its Darjeeling tea, grown in the Himalayan foothills, is famous for its delicate flavour and was the first Indian product to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, in 2004. Other tea-growing areas include the Dooars and Terai region of West Bengal, the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, Munnar in Kerala, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura.

The Tea Board of India, set up in 1954 under the Tea Act, 1953, has its headquarters in Kolkata and works under the Ministry of Commerce. 21 May is observed as International Tea Day.

Why not the other options?

• ✗West Bengal is the second-largest producer of tea (Darjeeling and Dooars).
• ✗Kerala is known for tea at Munnar, but produces much less.
• ✗Tamil Nadu grows tea in the Nilgiri hills.