Introduction

The 142 year-old Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation entered the plantation business in 1913. Today its plantations in the hills of South India cover 2,822 hectares under tea. These plantations are located in prime plantation areas, producing 8million kgs of tea annually. Preserving the aroma, flavor and distinct taste of classic Indian tea, BBTCL is one of the most experienced and highly respected business houses in the country. Operating for about last 142 years, we hold the distinction of being amongst most eminent and reputed manufacturers and exporters of naturally grown “ Organic Tea”

The BBTCL . was incorporated in 1863 and is the oldest Rupee company in India founded with public participation. As the name suggests, the company in its early years, dealt with trading of timber from Burma.(now Myanmar) It was not until 1913 that we turned our attention to tea plantations. After learning about the areas suitable for tea plantations in South India, we decided to invest there and opened our first estates in the Anamallai hills of Coimbatore District in Tamilnadu.

By 1926, we established “The Mudis Group of estates”, which today comprises of five estates and four factories having 1,863 hectares for tea plantation. It was also at this time that we acquired land in further south (at the tip of the Indian peninsular) and founded “The Singampatti Group” which today has three estates, covering 804 hectares and having three factories. In addition, we (BBTC, as popularly known in South India) acquired Dunsandle Estate (155 hectares) in the Nilgiris, which one of the earliest planted estates in South India. Today, we have 2,822 hectares under tea and produce about 8 million kg of tea annually.

The Anamallai hills, where the Mudis Group is located, is the largest tea district in South India. The hills run parallel to the west coast and are accessible from the historic port of Cochin. On the eastern side, one descends into the plains of Tamilnadu, with the closest city being Coimbatore, well known for its cotton and textile industry. The hills themselves are forested and the tea area nestles in a bowl in the hills.

This is one of the largest tea areas in South India, covering some 14,000 hectares and is home to the estates of many companies. The average elevation is about 3,500 feet above sea level and the teas produced are typically medium elevation teas. The slopes of the hills are covered with tea in orderly rows interspersed with shade trees, and from a distance, the area gives the impression of being a well-maintained lawn spread over the rolling hills.

Our Dunsandle Estate, situated in the better-known Nilgiri hills, is a high elevation estate at over 6,000 feet above sea level. It produces typical high elevation teas with the distinctive Nilgiri aroma and flavour. The Nilgiri district is far more populated and has some of the oldest tea plantations in South India (some of it over a hundred years old and are still going strong). The district has two major townships and is well known as a tourist destination. Though, primarily a tea growing area which produces some of the best tea in South India, the district also has other industries and a major army cantonment, which houses the Defence Services Staff College and the Madras Regimental Center.