This is a bit of family history relating to the Corramore Tea Garden, Hatigarh in the Darrang District of Assam, north east India.
Some details are set out below and a history and description are on the pages, More Corramore and Still more Corramore.
Any contributions, information or history would be welcomed. If you can assist with further information, please e-mail me.
Corramore was founded by Robert Logan from Lanark in Scotland in the 1860’s and it remained in Logan family hands for around 100 years until it was acquired by Williamson Tea. You can read more of the history in the pages which follow. Everyone I have been in contact with who has worked at or visited Corramore remarks on its wonderful atmosphere and setting, almost in the foothills of the Himalayas.
The Indian tea operations of Williamson Tea, which latterly included Corramore, were fairly recently sold to McLeod Russell India. Here is a link to McLeod Russell's website (click on Assam then Udalguri (left-most green area); Corramore is the northern-most 'dot' on the map of that area). If this link does not work please let me know me as the relevant website is under constant change.). Alternatively here is a link to Google maps
CORRAMORE
Located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in the Mangaldai area of the District of Darrang. It is close to Bhutan and offers a panoramic view of the Kaziranga hills. The area under tea in the estate is 488 hectares with production of 1,735 tons. In the map above you will find Corramore immediately below the Williamson Tea Assam title.
WHERE TO BUY
Rinaldo, Kendal, Cumberland, UK
Mail order
Clement & Pekoe, Dublin, Ireland
I have sampled this one and it is . . . delicious, with a slightly orangey tang.
€ - Ireland.
As of my last visit the website was being redesigned - I’d suggest emailing them - they are a friendly small firm.
Try searching for ‘Corramore tea’ - there is a UK seller ‘beverageclub’ from whom I have bought in the past who often has it in stock at reasonable prices
TEA
The tea plant of the species Camellia is an evergreen bush; its closest relatives are the camellias seen regularly in gardens and borders.
There are three main species of the tea bush:
- Camellia sinensis (the Chinese variety)
- Camellia assamica (the Assam variety)
- Camellia cambodiensis (the Cambodian variety)
The true botanical origin is a matter of speculation, but it is generally believed that the parent plant came from Assam from where it spread to China. However, with a more than 5,000 years-of tradition, China is seen as the country in which tea originated.
It was only in 1823 that some wild growing tea plants were rediscovered in Assam in northern India and subsequently cultivated.
Tea growing on a commercial scale was pioneered by the British in Assam after the discovery of the tea plant by Major Robert Bruce.
Over the years, through scientific research and clonal seeds, plants have been developed for optimum quality, yield and pest resistance.
To ensure good growing conditions, the tea plant requires:
- An average annual temperature of at least 18°C, but not exceeding 39°C or falling below 4°C
- An average daily sunshine of at least 4 hours
- Precipitation spread evenly across the year of at least 1,600 mm
- Deep nutrient-rich loose soil, that is moisture retentive, but not waterlogged
- An optimum range of soil pH of between 5.0 and 5.6
Apart from oil, tea is one of the few organised industries in Assam directly employing over 590,000 people with another 660,000 dependents residing on the tea gardens.
PRESS CUTTINGS
The Times June 1936