Earthworm effects on tea

Good for the Bangladeshis! By the way, those of us who've been dealing with Silk Road Teas for some time will remember that David Hoffman, its proprietor, has been trying to get Chinese tea farmers to use earthworms for a long time. (Standard disclaimer: my only relationship with SRT is as a customer.)

/Lew

A short-term decrease, of course. In the long run, they will preserve the fertility of their soils, and be ahead of the game in fifty years or so when synthetic fertilizers are unaffordable and natural soil capacity elsewhere is radically diminished. If ever a crop justified the long view, it's tea!

I'm no tree-hugger - in fact, I'm pretty handy with a chain-saw and maul. I also tend to react badly to what seems like new-agey anti-science attitudes toward technology, especially from people with cars, televisions and central heat, and who don't raise their own food. It's also amusing to a scientist that plant defense chemicals secreted in response to external attacks (like caffeine?) are often far more toxic to humans than the insecticides they replace. However, I entirely agree with Ripon's thesis.

I don't know much about soil chemistry, but will admit to being a largely organic gardener and landscaper. The ill-effects of some insecticides and herbicides are well enough known. Salts even more so - most of the first civilizations (including those on the Nile, Mesopotamia and some in the New World) seem to have succumbed to salting of the soil. Not that you probably cared, but over-use of chemicals (or even irrigation, unless salts are flushed out with a lot of extra water) causes at least two problems: buildup of salts creates direct osmotic stress on plant roots, so they can't pull what they need from the ground. Worse in some ways is a fundamental change in soil structure, in the charge double-layer at the surface of clay grains, that can compromise its ability to support nutrient transport. (Same reason you need good water to make good pottery.) Spirituality aside, soil is very much a living ecosystem, from "dead" spaceholders like sand grains to montmorillonite platelets to bacteria, fungi and nematodes to larger creatures.

The earthworm thing is amazing. I've done a number of big projects that involved sterile dirt, and watching what happens as the worms colonize is inspiring. The whole texture and chemistry of the dirt are transformed. There are lots of "without this, life as we know it would be impossible" propositions, ranging from the fine-structure constant to tea. But earthworms are arguably responsible for a significant portion of the planet's fertility.

A lot of plants, notably kitchen herbs, deliver more of what we want when severely stressed. I'd be interested to know, from Ripon or some other well-traveled teaist, if there's any evidence that tea plants produce a better product under "ideal" or challenging growing conditions.

-DM

Actually, while many organic folk believe that earthworms are great, it is very likely that this is not true. They are frequently invasive, and because they consume so much organic matter are actually destructive to several ecosystems to which they are introduced. Most simple assumptions are generally wrong.

For a recent summaries geared to the general public see:

or

or

Dear Joe:

Wonderful contribution. I am not a biologist, I don't know what to say. Waiting for other RFDT readers thought on this topic. I am sending this three topic to Tea Board of Bangladesh and want to know if they are aware of this or not. Thanks again Joe.

Ripon Vienna,VA

I just read the West is suffering from the worst drought since the Dust Bowl, nothing new about that to me. I can go dig with a backhoe and never see a worm. It rained yesterday and today and they're all on the surface enjoying the moisture like the rest of us. I recently saw a nature show where they're the faster burrowers underground something like 20 ft/hour. I grew up on the coast and a shovel would expose enough to go fishing. You'd hook the entire worm segment leaving the head and tail to wiggle for the fish, not pretty. I buy organic tea whenever I see it but more likely marketing than anything else. I see it as an agricultural crop with the real problem of mismanagement of spraying without oversight. AFAIK what is banned here is still expensive to apply elsewhere. What happened to the family farm in this country is because they can't compete with the conglomerates and their legends of scientific agriculturalists and economists predicting futures. The misconception the family farm is sucked up by the conglomerates. That's not true there are plenty of banks in the midwest still holding notes from abandoned farms. For about $100k you can buy a 100ac farm with a house just as old that will need some fix up. Oops my retirement portfolio manager will be mad.

Jim

Never heard of Bangladeshi tea. Is it marketed under a different appelation?

--Blair "And is anyone steeping earthworms?"

Blair P. HoughtonofpBc.17860514$ snipped-for-privacy@news.easynews.com6/20/04

19: snipped-for-privacy@p.h

Blair,

Bangladeshi tea is quite pleasant in a soft and friendly and warm sort of a way, much like a good Assam is supposed to taste and nine times out of ten doesn't. This is just my ever so humble opinion, of course. Ispahani is the brand name commonly found here in our Bangladeshi grocery stores. The packages are yellow. Mezapore, Bangladesh appear on the label. This is CTC tea. I have tasted better whole leaf Bangla teas, but they are apparently not available in my neck of the woods. Ripon might know where to get them.

Michael

Blair:

Yes, Michael is right about Ispahani and Mirzapore CTC tea. I have some with me, once in a while I make Chai Masala with it when I feel for strong, robust and malty cup. The other organic tea- "Bangladesh Black Pearl tea" Michael is talking about is a whole leaves Orthodox tea. he tried two types. The black pearl has an very interesting, complex taste. I have send this tea to many tea mailers and RFDT readers. I have none with me right now, otherwise I would love to send you some.

This Organic Orthodox tea was tasted by Bill Willington, the owner of "Tea Source" he also sell another Bangladeshi orthodox tea. Check at

This one is good but nothing compare to the Black pearl. He is trying to outsource this tea from Bangladesh. According to his description and tasting report- this tea has an complex taste in between Assam and Yunnan. Some other people said- in between Assam and Keemun. We all couldn't come to an conclusion. I came here with

1000 gm and all are gone. I didn't get the chance to taste it more. Don't worry, I am going to Bangladesh September or October and wish to bring a whole chest with my bronze statues shipment. This tea is a limited production and organic method also let them grow a little amount. The whole lot right now is being exported to Sweden and Norway. I don't know, which company buy from them. Last time, I heard they were trying to producing Organic Golden Tips. I hope to see some surprise this time. For your information- China also grow Shin Cha types green tea. Bangladesh also grow good green tea for 100% export to Japan. I will also try to collect some this time. I will send you some just keep in touch. I miss this tea a lot but alas I have none. I was more happy to share with my tea friends around here. It is more fun to share your favorite thing with your friends.

For now the TeaSource is your only place to try some Bangladeshi orthodox tea.

Ripon Vienna,VA

Was inspired to do a little more research on this. The above generalizations are perhaps a bit broad, and the cited articles leave out critical contextual and scope information.

Anyone who's really interested in this might want to look deeper, including other newsgroup responses to these same postings. One interesting (and often accurate) forum is gardenweb.com, which I've found to be an excellent source of both useful and interesting information on almost any plant-related subject.

-DM