GUWAHATI, Dec 31 - Assamica, a handbook on different varieties of Assam tea and their making, written by Rakhi Dutta Saikia, a tea planter of Golaghat, was released by celebrated author Arup Kumar Dutta in a solemn function held at the Guwahati Book fair today.
Dutta praised the effort of the writer in documenting many details and different aspects of Assam tea. He said that though tea�s Chinese origin gave it its scientific name Camellia sinensis, the independent qualities of Assam tea were responsible for the world scientists to name it Camellia assamica. As such, the naming of the book was appropriate, he said. Former chairman of North Eastern Tea Association Bidyananda Barkakoti, lamented that despite tea being designated as the State Drink of Assam, no steps to give it its due status at the official level have been initiated. The Assam Tribune assistant editor Partha Pratim Hazarika stressed the need to translate the book into English for a broader spectrum of readers.
Author of the book Assamica, Rakhi Dutta Saikia who recently came to limelight for making yellow tea from the tea buds of her own plantations in Golaghat, said that it was time to diversify in producing different kinds of tea from Assam tea to consolidate our presence in the world tea market.