some cite that the first recorded reference to tea in India was in the ancient epic of the Ramayana,

which referenced the "Sanjeevani tea" plant when Hanuman was sent to the Himalayas to bring it for medicinal use. However, studies have shown that Sanjeevani plant was likely a plant unrelated to the tea plant (Camellia fimbriatum. sinensis)
[1]

and

more

likely

refers

to

either Selaginella

bryopteris or Desmotrichum

The cultivation and brewing of tea in India has a long history of applications in traditional

systems of medicine and for consumption. Commercial production of tea in India did not begin until the arrival of the British East India Company, at which point large tracts of land were converted for mass tea production. Today, India is one of the largest tea producers in the world, though over 70% of the tea is consumed within India itself. A number of renown teas, such as Darjeeling, also grow exclusively in India. The Indian tea industry has grown to own many global tea brands, and has evolved to one of the most technologically equipped tea industries in the world. Tea production, certification, exportation, and all other facets of the tea trade in India is controlled by the Tea Board of India.

Ancient India and the Ramayana

Tea cultivation in India has somewhat ambiguous origins. Though the extent of the popularity of tea in Ancient India is unknown, it is known that the tea plant was a wild plant in north east India that was indeed brewed by local inhabitants of the region. The Singpho and Khamti tribes living in northern Burma and Arunachal Pradesh have stated that they have been consuming tea since the 12th century
needed] [citation

[edit]East

India Company

In the early 1820s, the British East India Company began large-scale production of tea in Assam, India, of a tea variety traditionally brewed by the Singpho tribe. In 1826, the British East India Company took over the region from the Ahom kings through the Yandaboo Treaty. In 1837, the first English tea garden was established at Chabua in Upper Assam; in 1840, the Assam Tea Company began the commercial production of tea in the region, run by indentured servitude of the local inhabitants. Beginning in the 1850s, the tea industry rapidly expanded, consuming vast tracts of land for tea plantations. By the turn of the century, Assam became the leading tea producing region in the world.
[2]

Writing in The Cambridge World History of Food', Weisburger & Comer write: "The tea cultivation begun there [India] in the nineteenth century by the British, however, has accelerated to the point that today India is listed as the world's leading producer, its 715,000 tons well ahead of China's 540,000 tons, and of course, the teas of Assam, Ceylon (from the island nation known as Sri Lanka), and Darjeeling are world famous. However, because Indians average half a cup daily on per capita basis, fully 70 percent of India's immense crop is consumed locally."

Define: "Necessity is the Mother of Invention"

Uploaded by biblegirl22 on Aug 02, 2005

Define: "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" The quote, Necessity is the mother of invention, is a pretty well known saying. Like most quotes, they can have different meanings for different people. To me, this quote means that without ever having to need anything, nothing would have been invented. Without necessity, the need for new inventions, such as the fire or even the television, may have never been found or even thought of. Also, with the need of certain things, you can help improve your life and the lives of others. New inventions and ideas happen all the time. Some are planned and others arent. Necessity plays a key role in the beginnings of new inventions. A few months ago, hurricanes came ripping through Florida and many of my family members and friends didnt have power for several weeks. We met at someones house and tried to make the best out of a very difficult situation. While the adults sat inside and chatted, all the kids gathered on the porch to make up a game that would consume time and amuse us all on the same token. With only a few scraps from Twister, Monopoly, and Checkers, we made a game more comical than any other game I have ever heard of. As our parents beckoned us inside, we begged our parents to stay. Knowing we couldnt win them over, we gathered all the pieces, so we could play again. Improving yours and others lives can bring about many necessities that must be dealt with. Not only can it help someone become a little less stressed, but you can also have a little fun. When my family and I would arrive home after a long day, we decided to invent a Family Game Night. I remember one week, when you could feel the tension in the room. Dad had just come through the door and mom was busy cleaning the kitchen as I prepared the game room for our family night. Everyone, including me must have had a very trying day. When everything was set, we sat down and gingerly started to play. Soon, everyone was so hysterical that tears were coming from their eyes. Clearly, since our invention of our Family Game Night the need for everyone to have some fun and relax was finally solved. The need for some things can bring about new inventions, which can be fun and very rewarding....