'Tea' is the most popular beverage. It is believed to be indigenous to South-western China, North Eastern India. It is a tree growing to a height of 10 or 12' in a wild state. But for the cultivation, it is not allowed to grow so tall. The tea plant requires a subtropical to temperate climate and at elevations varying from 5,000 to 7,000' above the sea level. Tea grows well only in a properly drained soil. Tea is easily grown by means of seeds; the plant is grown under a proper system of pruning and the leaves are gathered at certain times of the year, usually in October and February. They are afterwards taken to the factory and subjected to other processes and then they are brought out as commercial tea. In the manufacture of black tea, the fermentation process is allowed, while in the manufacture of green tea, fermentation is avoided. The samples are arranged in the show-case according to the kinds of tea. The grades are merely commercial terms. The 'orange pekoe' is supposed to be made of buds. The next in descent is called the 'pekoe'.

     'Beverages' have always found a place of pride in almost all the societies. The alcoholic beverages are derived from cereals and fruits like grapes etc., whereas the non-alcoholic beverages are prepared from a number of other plants. In the later category, the caffeinaceous drinks like coffee, tea, and chocolate are very popular. They are consumed all over the world.

Gums

    The gums are formed as result of the disintegration of internal tissue (from the decomposition of cellulose), through a process known as 'gummosis'. Gum contains a large amount of sugar and is closely allied to the pectins. They are colloidal in nature and soluble in water and ether. They exude naturally from the stems, or in response to wounding. Gums are especially common in plants of dry regions. They find their greatest use as adhesives and are also used in printing and finishing textiles, as a sizing material for paper, in the paint and candy industries and as drugs.