The History and Living Conditions of Kerala Tea Plantation Workers

கேரளத் தேயிலைத் தோட்ட மக்களின்

Abstract

People around the world consume beverages such as tea, coffee, and cocoa. Among these, tea is most preferred and consumed by people. Research reports indicate that people consume approximately 800 million cups of tea worldwide in a single day. Tea production began in China in 2737 BCE. “A legendary Chinese story tells that Shen Nung, one of the emperors who received the divine blessings of China, once had water boiled for drinking, and at that time, leaves from a nearby bush fell into the pot, changing the color of the water, which came to be known as tea.” Tea was introduced to India in 1774 CE. During the time of Warren Hastings, who was the Governor-General of India, tea seeds were imported from China and cultivated in the botanical garden in Kolkata. Currently, India ranks first in the world in both tea production and consumption. Tea is cultivated in states covering 98 thousand hectares, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and others.