By Oge Okafor
As we celebrate Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary, the tea story wouldn’t be complete if we do not get a fair idea of what and how the Nigerian’s version started and evolved to become what it is today. The Chinese are regarded as the first set of people to drink tea. As it is widely known, tea originated from China from where it was introduced to Japan and other lands.
Nigeria, popularly referred to as the populous black nation in Africa is also a large country in West Africa that has a tropical climate with rainforest in the southernmost area nearest the ocean. Rainfall decreases as one moves inland, with forest giving way to savannah and the most arid areas being located in the northernmost part of the country.
Nigeria produces tea, although the total amount of its production is not important on the global market. In addition, Nigeria produces other herbs, such as hibiscus, used in herbal teas. Drawing from the abstract of link.springer.com, commercial tea planting started in 1982 since its introduction into Nigeria around 1952. Nigeria produces black tea with the CTC method, labelled ‘Highland tea’. The total land area planted to tea is 1,200 ha. The average annual national production is 1,640 tonnes, which meets only 10 percent of domestic need. Opportunities thus exist for further local and foreign investments in the Nigerian tea industry.
Lipton first came to Nigeria in 1959 under the Van Den Bergh Foods Company. In 1972 however, Unilever acquired the world wide Lipton Tea Business. Lipton became Unilever Nigeria’s brand in 1985. The tea blend is imported from Kenya and packed into teabags in the factory at Agbara in Ogun State in the Western part of Nigeria.
Tea improvement started in 1982 with the acquisition of 33 clones by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria. Since then, moderate achievements have been recorded. In the mid-1970s, Bohea designed and established Nigeria’s first commercial tea project comprising a 450ha (hectares) irrigated estate on the Mambilla plateau. From 1993-1997, HVA International provided technical assistance and procurement services for the Mambilla Tea Integrated Development Programme (MTIDP) in Nigeria. The main components of the assignment included rehabilitation and expansion of the existing tea estate (from 450ha to 850ha) and out-grower tea plantings (from 140ha to 400ha, rehabilitation, modernization and expansion of the tea factory (from 1, 200t to 2, 250t made tea per annum) strengthening the Out-grower Farmers Association and training management, operational and extension staff.
The Mambilla Plateau that can be found in the southeast corner of Taraba State shares a border with Cameroon. The Mambilla Plateau is a high grassland plateau that averages about 1800 meters. The Mambilla Plateau is an exclusive topographic area with some of the biggest and highest mountains in Nigeria – some of the peaks are over 1840m
But tea in Nigeria grew well over the years as there was an increase in the formal working culture, with tea generally consumed in offices. Also, competition and advertising activities helped to drive growth in tea consumption.
Through the years, Nigeria has evolved to become a tea drinking country as people have come to realize the health benefits of drinking tea and the different (variations) ways with which tea can be taken. We have gradually adopted a tea drinking culture.
It is a known fact and so it will not be wrong to say that the Northern part of Nigeria consisting majorly of the Hausa is the highest tea consuming part of the country. Tea is usually part of their breakfast, lunch and dinner and it is also a beverage to entertain guests. The reason lies with the fact that the northern region of Nigeria is blessed with extreme weather conditions; it is known to be the hottest part of the country.
To prove that the Northerners are great lover of tea; it is a common sight to behold every corner of the streets filled with “mai chai” (tea master) who brew and sell tea per cup especially to meet the need of people who are working on the move and in shops and do not have the time to take a break to boil water and brew their own cup.
This culture has travelled down to states like Lagos in the southwest where they are seen plying their trade and has been of tremendous benefit especially during the wet season. They have even upped their game with the introduction of noodle-breakfast corner.
However, the mai chai usually have various blends of teas to be chosen from by their customers. This can be likened to the tea shops available in various countries where people can take a tea break.
Meanwhile, the South-west part of Nigeria also boasts of tea lovers who would drink tea no matter the weather. Although, unlike their tea drinking counterparts in the North who prefer to drink their tea plain or with sugar or honey, the South-west will usually drink with a lot of creamed milk and sugar just the way the British (whites) drink theirs.
In fact, it is common to find most families drinking tea in that manner with snacks like bread as breakfast or dinner. However, due to health awareness these days, Nigerians have realized the need to reduce calorie intake and hence consume tea with honey or just a little bit of milk and sugar.
Other parts of the countries are gradually embracing the act of tea drinking especially the green tea due to its increasing health benefits. The availability of various blends of tea and flavours aside the traditional black tea has also ignited the passion of Nigerians to tea.
The average temperature of the country at about 32°C has generally made tea a comfortable drink for the early mornings as most offices usually have tea in the morning before the start of work, hence, the unpopularity of afternoon teas except for addict drinkers who will drink tea at any time of the day.
►www.euromonitor.com/tea; www.ratetea.com; www.skyscrapercity.com & ahmadteang.com