Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/694455
STiR tea & coffee industry international 33 K L O T H & K Ö H N K E N T E E H A N D E L G M B H K O N S U L - S M I D T - S T R A S S E 8 j SPEICHER 1 - D -282 17 BREMEN FON + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 8 5 2 6 4 FAX + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 7 7 7 2 0 W W W . K K T E E . D E M A I L @ K K T E E . D E IT SUITS ALL MERCHANTS TO TRADE FAIR AND QUALI-TEA ! Bansal believes that the sinensis va- riety is better suited to cultivation in Darjeeling and therefore plans to plant mainly seed-grown sinensis bushes on all his estates. Even where other varieties are already in the ground, he will gradually convert all the gardens to local sinensis. And while many tea estates around the world now grow new plants by veg- etative propagation from leaf cuttings, Ambootia grows mainly from seed and has a seed orchard where the tea plants grow into trees that are used only for the production of seed. The use of their own seeds gives the garden management team total control over of what they propagate, and allows the development of plants that are best suited to the Darjeeling environ- ment. Tea plants from seed have much stronger root systems than plants grown from leaf cuttings. Seed grown plants yield good quality tea for 150 years or more, whereas plants developed by vegetative propagation are productive for around 50 years. Following Steiner's biodynamic guidelines, Ambootia grows dandelions whose leaves can be used to make sprays, and whose flowers are stuffed inside cow horns and buried in the earth during winter to make fertilizer. Cow horns are also filled with a humus mixture and buried in the autumn. Through the winter months the humus decomposes and is then used as fertilizer in the spring. Ambootia's tea fields are surrounded by Lantana bushes whose beautiful yellow, pink, and orange flowers create a delicate splash of color amongst the fields of green. But it has another use. A spray made from the boiled leaves of Lantana makes an ef- fective pesticide against aphids. Vermiculture also plays an important part in preparing rich manures. The higher the proportion of nitrogen in compost the better, and as organic matter is broken down and digested by the worms, a higher concentration of nitrogen develops in the compost. Worm-digested compost also contains much higher levels of other essential nutrients, such as phosphorous and potash, than normal soil and, once spread around the tea plants, encourages them to absorb water and nutrients. Seed-grown plants, pictured at right, have a deeper tap and stronger root system Darjeeling tea plants must cling to steep inclines and withstand heavy rains